Patriots-Falcons: Stephon Gilmore and Eric Rowe still not at practice, availability for Sunday in question

According to multiple reports, the New England Patriots did not have cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore or Eric Rowe at practice. LB Harvey Langi continues to miss time after his car accident. Numerous reporters have also noted that LB Elandon Roberts was present, but he was also present on Wednesday when the injury report declared he “did not practice.”

If Gilmore and Rowe can’t play, then the Patriots will likely ask Johnson Bademosi to make his second-straight start and will throw him to the wolves against Atlanta Falcons superstar wide receiver Julio Jones. Bademosi is 6’1, 200 pounds with 4.39s 40 yard dash speed and is a better physical match-up than the much shorter Malcolm Butler.

Butler will likely match up against Mohamed Sanu, while Jonathan Jones will cover Taylor Gabriel. The Patriots have no more depth at the position and that would push Devin McCourty or Patrick Chung into cornerback duty if any of Butler, Bademosi, and Jones are unable to play.

Bademosi actually had a pretty strong day as a starter against the New York Jets, facing just three targets despite not knowing his role in the gameplan until Saturday night. That said, Julio Jones is a far different player to cover than Jermaine Kearse. Hopefully Bademosi is up for the challenge.

Shea McClellin was again at practice, but won’t be listed on the injury report until he is activated.