As they do after every win, the New England Patriots have again handed out practice player of the week honors following their 23-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The players are chosen by the coaching staff for helping the team prepare for the opponent – and this week a season-high 10 players have received the accolade (via the Patriots' Twitter account):
RB Brandon Bolden
RB Rex Burkhead
RB Mike Gillislee
DB David Jones
OL Ted Karras
DE Eric Lee
RB Dion Lewis
WR Bernard Reedy
DB Damarius Travis
RB James White
What stands out on the list above is the high number of running backs. In fact, every running back currently under contract has been named “practice player of the week” – a testament to how the entire depth chart helped prepare for a Bills offense that relies on its running game more than other teams around the league.
Two newly signed players, Bernard Reedy and Eric Lee, also received the honors. The latter of the two, who started the season on Buffalo's practice squad, was a standout performer on Sunday: Lee registered 1.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup and four tackles in only his second game with the Patriots.
Week 2: DB Nate Ebner, DL Geneo Grissom, TE Jacob Hollister
Week 3: DL Adam Butler, DL Geneo Grissom, WR Cody Hollister, DB Damarius Travis
Week 5: Unknown
Week 6: DL Angelo Blackson, QB Jimmy Garoppolo, DB David Jones, OL Ted Karras, DB Damarius Travis
Week 7: RB Rex Burkhead, LB Marquis Flowers, DL Geneo Grissom, WR Cody Hollister, LB Trevor Reilly, CB Jomal Wiltz
Week 8: TE Dwayne Allen, OL Cole Croston, WR Cody Hollister, TE Jacob Hollister, CB Ryan Lewis, DB Jomal Wiltz
Week 10: DL Geneo Grissom, DL Mike Purcell, DB Damarius Travis, WR Riley McCarron, OL Cameron Fleming
Week 11: RB Brandon Bolden, OL James Ferentz, DL Geneo Grissom, WR Riley McCarron, DB David Jones
Week 12: WR Cody Hollister, QB Brian Hoyer, WR Riley McCarron, LB Trevor Reilly, DB Damarius Travis