The New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl. After a stunning regular-season turnaround saw the team win 14 games, the Pats have grinded out victories over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos in the playoffs to advance to Super Bowl LX. Now, all that stands between them and the Lombardi Trophy is the Seattle Seahawks.
With over a week to go until kickoff, the Patriots have emerged as an early underdog, which isn’t much of a surprise considering how the playoffs have unfolded. New England is going to throw its best punch in this one, though, and as the team begins preparing for its final game of the season, it signed a pair of players to its practice squad in an effort to shore up its depth.
Patriots Sign Wide Receiver Trent Sherfield, Linebacker Patrick Johnson
The Patriots may have two weeks to prepare for this game, but injuries are playing a big role in the buildup to this one. Right now, the only thing people want to talk about is Drake Maye’s injured throwing shoulder, even though he and the team continue to downplay it. There are injuries elsewhere, though, as Robert Spillane, Harold Landry III, Marte Mapu, and Thayer Munford Jr. all didn’t practice on Thursday.
Again, there’s still a lot of time between now and kickoff, but New England wants to have all its bases covered before this game. As a result, the front office signed wide receiver Trent Sherfield and linebacker Patrick Johnson to their practice squad in an effort to make sure that their depth is in tip-top shape before the Super Bowl.
Sherfield previously spent time with the Pats ahead of their AFC Championship Game matchup with the Broncos. It seemed like Sherfield was only being used to give the Patriots an inside look at their opponent, as he was released the day before the game, but he’s found his way back to town now. Johnson most recently spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he appears to be an extra layer of depth behind Spillane in the event he can’t suit up vs. the Seahawks.
“The New England Patriots announced that LB Patrick Johnson and WR Trent Sherfield Sr. have been signed to the practice squad,” the team wrote on its official website.
Patriots Hoping They Can Get Healthy Before Super Bowl LX
GettyDrake Maye is confirmed to be dealing with a shoulder injury.
Maye’s injury status is obviously drawing the most attention, but the other injuries across the board may be more concerning for New England. Spillane and Landry, in particular, are the guys to keep tabs on, as Spillane left the AFC Championship Game early with an ankle injury, while Landry didn’t suit up at all thanks to a bothersome knee injury that he cannot seem to shake.
The likelihood of either Sherfield or Johnson suiting up for the Super Bowl is low, but you never know what will happen between now and kickoff. The Patriots have earned a reputation for being very thorough with their preparation process throughout the season, and there’s no reason why that would change before their most important game in nearly a decade.
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