Patriot leaders talk about responsibility

It’s been a season of unpredictability for the Patriots’ locker room leaders.

In September, New England appointed six captains: Jacoby Brissett, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Deatrich Wise, Jr., Jabrill peppers, David Andrews, And Joe Cardona.

Since then, two of these players (Bentley and Andrews) have suffered injuries during the season, and one (Peppers) has been placed on the Commissioner’s List following an arrest for his alleged involvement in a domestic violence incident. Meanwhile, Brissett lost his job to a rookie Drake Mayeand the usually reliable Cardona missed a game earlier this month due to injury.

“Sometimes I feel like being captain this year is some kind of Madden curse,” the coach said Jerod Mayo said earlier this month.

In the wake of the losses of Peppers and Andrews, the Patriots have made a name for themselves Kyle Dugger And Hunter Hendrik as new captains. And Bentley and Andrews remain with the team regularly. (Bentley was among the veterans who made his feelings known at a recent team meeting.)

But there’s no denying that New England has suffered from a lack of on-field leadership in recent weeks.

“We lost a lot as far as our captains go,” Mayo said. “Having said that, I think guys just need to step up. Boys need to step up. I know the players understand that everyone has to take their game to the next level. I know the coaches understand that we have to demand that our players play winning football.”

Of the veteran voices who remain on the active list, they say leadership in difficult times can take many forms. Wise acknowledges that his role evolves throughout the season, especially when things get tough.

“It’s expanding,” he explained. “I do what I already have to do, or what I do naturally. And then, whenever I see little ‘fires’, or heads down, whatever the case may be, I go there and discuss the situation. That’s how it goes.”

For Henry, it’s all about an optimistic approach, regardless of the circumstances.

“Bring the same positivity. Same good atmosphere, in a way for everyone,” he said. “Obviously you can talk to certain people about different things in the game plan or other things like that. But just try to attack the week in the same way and try to keep getting better.

Even a cornerback Jonathan Jones was not appointed captain, his leadership skills were certainly put to use. The 31-year-old is one of the few players left on the roster who can boast of winning a Super Bowl ring. He says he takes lessons from the lessons he learned from former teammates like Devin McCourty when it comes to his leadership style, especially during difficult times.

“I just try to be an example. That’s pretty much how the guys before me have done it,” said Jones, who is second in seniority on the roster behind only long snapper Cardona. “They showed up, they were consistent.

“And I’ve spent the last nine years trying to be that person; just show up and do what I can do,” he added. “Expand that help. Show guys things that I see and what comes out there. But at the same time we are professionals. Our job is to be professionals and be professional.”

Like Bentley, Jones hasn’t been shy about speaking out. He lashed out at teammates after Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars.

“Everyone has to do better. (That was) the message,” defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said of Jones’ post-game speech. “And I agree with him.”

“No one is going to change it but us,” Jones said when asked about his message. “And as coaches and players, it’s up to us. I just tell the guys to look in the mirror and let’s just go out and improve. I think at this point in the season it’s all we can do.

“The ship is moving,” he added. ‘You have to get on board, otherwise at some point you will notice that you are no longer there. Not in the competition. That’s just how this game goes. You just buy in, otherwise the game is gone from you.’

This week, Jones was asked about the challenge of working with some younger players who may not be fully aware of the standards that exist around Foxborough and what is involved in maintaining those standards.

“There’s a younger group of guys coming in. We have an extremely young team,” he said. “It’s about finding out what this team wants to stand for. There are certain pillars of the football organization that will never change. It just makes those guys believe in it.”

Dugger on injury report

The Patriots announced that Dugger (ankle) had been added to the injury report and was questionable for Sunday’s game with the Jets…New England elevated linebacker Ocean Mathis off the practice squad for the second week in a row and the third time this season. The 6-5, 250-pound Mathis, a former sixth-round pick of the Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft, was released by Los Angeles on August 25 and signed by the Patriots on August 30. He played on special teams and defense for the Patriots this season … The Jets activated the defensive lineman Haason Reddick to the active selection. The veteran, who has 50.5 sacks since 2020 (fourth-most in the NFL in that stretch), ended a lengthy contract break on Monday. New York also lowered its tight end rating Kenny Yeboah and safety Tony Adams to go out for the game. Additionally, the Jets also elevated the offensive lineman Alec Lindstrom and defensive back Jarius Monroe from the practice squad.

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Christopher Price can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @cpriceglobe.