The New England Patriots – currently riding high at 8-0 – have suffered a blow to their offense with reports that their versatile running back Dion Lewis has torn his ACL and will miss the rest of the season.
Lewis suffered the injury during Sunday’s win over Washington. It did not come through contact with another player, instead Lewis fell to the ground while making a cut. Lewis had become a potent weapon for the Patriots offense both as a receiver and rusher. He had 234 yards on the ground and 388 yards receiving.
That he was injured without being touched is a fitting – if unwelcome – tribute. Lewis has displayed an ability to make defenders miss all season and according to Pro Football Focus, has an “elusive rating” of 165.2. The metric is usually measured on a scale of around 0-100 and the previous highest mark for any player was 106.9.
Lewis had been a bit-part player at the Eagles, and lasted only a week at the Indianapolis Colts last season. The only good news for Lewis is that he had signed a two-year, $5m deal with the Patriots before Sunday’s injury.
Brandon Bolden is expected to assume Lewis’s role for the rest of the season, alongside LaGarrette Blount.
