Patriots can overcome Dion Lewis' season-ending injury
By Mike Batista
Dion Lewis’ injury looked ominous on Sunday, and on Monday the Patriots’ worst fears were confirmed.
The running back is out for the season with a torn ACL.
BREAKING: Patriots’ Dion Lewis out for season with torn ACL https://t.co/5SHkzFLVLn
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) November 9, 2015
With 5:35 left in the third quarter and the Patriots leading the Redskins 20-3, Lewis took a screen pass from Tom Brady, went 14 yards, then suddenly stopped and almost went into a fetal position in mid-air before coming down and grabbing his knee.
The Patriots kept rolling and went on to beat the Redskins 27-10 to improve to 8-0, but will the loss of Lewis be something that’s looked back on as a reason they fall short of a second straight championship?
Don’t count on it.
Lewis was third on the team with 622 total yards, including 234 rushing yards at a 4.8 yard-per-carry clip. According to ESPN stats, he was also the third highest yards per reception by a running back: "Highest yards per reception by RB this season: Charles Sims TB- 11.9 Danny Woodhead SD- 11.4 Dion Lewis NE- 10.8."
The Patriots take the running-back-by-committee approach to a whole new level. In recent years it seems a new back assumes a starring role every week. This is a committee that can almost be broken down into sub-committees.
Lewis’ skill set, however, stood out among the Patriots’ stable of running backs.
Lewis’ success was a feel-good story. Before this season, he hadn’t played in a game since 2012 with the Eagles. He spent 2013 on the Browns’ injured reserve list and couldn’t catch on with any team last season.
While none will be as flashy as Lewis, the Patriots have several candidates to fill his role as the supplemental back to LeGarrette Blount.
After Lewis went down, Brandon Bolden caught three passes for 27 yards and a touchdown. James White is on the roster. Travaris Cadet, who spent time in Patriots’ training camp this season, is a free agent.
The Steelers released Dri Archer, a third-round draft pick last season who couldn’t cut the mustard as a kick returner. The Patriots have a history of picking up the Steelers’ trash and turning it into treasure. They signed Blount after the Steelers released him last year and he averaged 4.7 yards per carry in five games and ran for 148 yards in a playoff win over the Colts.
Lewis caught three passes and ran for 171 yards in two years with the Eagles. The Patriots molded him into a key piece of their offense, and they can do the same with someone else. But just to reiterate, Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman are the indispensable pieces of the Patriots’ offensive machine.
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