The New England Patriots could potentially be without first-round pick Sony Michel for the entirety of preseason due to a knee injury, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
The rookie running back injured his knee Wednesday during practice while making a cut and needed to undergo a procedure to repair the damage.
Michel was the 31st overall pick in this year’s draft and the Patriots' second first-round pick following his Georgia teammate, Isaiah Wynn, who went at No. 23. He’s also the first running back the Patriots have taken in the first round since Laurence Maroney in 2006.
This isn't the first time Michel has suffered a notable knee-related injury in his football career. He tore his ACL in high school and also suffered two knee sprains in college.
While Michel’s injury is a blow to the Patriots, they still have sufficient bodies at the running back position. Versatile pass-catching backs Rex Burkhead and James White are almost surely going to make the roster, while Mike Gillislee and Jeremy Hill will be competing for carries in between the tackles. Brandon Bolden and rookie Ralph Webb are also challenging for a spot on the roster.
The Pats begin preseason Thursday, Aug. 9 against the Redskins and conclude Aug. 30 against the New York Giants. It remains to be seen whether Michel might miss their regular-season opener against the Texans on Sept. 9. But with the depth the Patriots possess in the backfield, they likely won’t take any unnecessary risks with their first-round pick if he’s not 100 percent ready to go.
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