The Patriots need to steady their ship—and fast. A 1-6 start? Yikes. That’s a rough look no matter how you spin it. And just as Pats fans were gearing up for a glimmer of hope with the Jets game (they’re sitting at 2-5, so no bragging rights there), boom, in comes the Kyle Dugger injury. Talk about adding insult to injury, right?

Yep, Dugger’s ankle is acting up, and the Patriots have officially listed him as “questionable.” Just when the defense needed all hands on deck, losing Dugger could be a real gut punch.

Dugger first injured his ankle in week 4 against the 49ers. He left the game and didn’t return, even sitting out the following week’s loss to Miami. He made it back for weeks 6 and 7, but now—just as the Patriots are prepping to face Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson—his status hangs in the balance. Tough timing, right?

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Here’s the kicker: Dugger was upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday. For a second, it seemed like the Pats would have their safety at full strength. That ankle injury looked like it might be in the rearview mirror, giving New England’s defense a boost heading into week 8. But nope, spoke too soon.

So, here we are again, with fans holding their breath. How much of a hit will this be to Jerod Mayo’s defense? Only Sunday will tell. But we can tell you this for now: with how the D-line’s been holding so far, this is a bummer.

Kyle Dugger adds to the Pats’ defensive woes

With Jabrill Peppers on the commissioner’s exempt list, Kyle Dugger’s update hits more like a dagger to the heart of the defense. And now, as the game goes on, Jerod Mayo must rely on Marte Mapu and Jaylinn Hawkins in the backfield, with reserves like Brenden Schooler and Dell Pettus filling in.

See, the thing with Dugger is that he has been a knight in shining armor for New England’s D-line. Going by his numbers, he has logged 35 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble across six games. But if Dugger sits out, that leaves a glaring hole, and with Aaron Rodgers and company waiting (especially his connection with Davante Adams), it’s screaming trouble for the defense.

It’s not just the injuries, though. Even with a full roster, there’s been an obvious coaching struggle. The schemes that once shut down offenses aren’t clicking, with the Patriots generating a meager 19% pressure rate against Trevor Lawrence last week and zero hits on the QB. Not ideal, right?

So, will DC DeMarcus Covington dial up something new for the Jets this week? We’ll find out soon enough if he can pull a win out of the playbook or if the Pats’ defense will keep slipping.