Devin McCourty

Patriots could lose rookie CB Darryl Roberts (wrist) for season

Published Aug. 24, 2015 1:52 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Patriots lost two Pro Bowl cornerbacks this offseason in Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, leaving young corners to take their spots.

Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler has stepped up admirably as the team's No. 1 cornerback, but depth is an issue and is trending in the wrong direction.

According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, seventh-round rookie corner Darryl Roberts could miss the entire season with a "significant wrist injury."

Roberts had seen time with the first-team defense in the preseason and was likely to compete for the No. 4 or 5 cornerback spot. Even if he wasn't expected to be a major contributor this season, the Patriots are in need of depth at the position.

In fact, they're so desperate for help that Bill Belichick moved Devin McCourty around often in the team's last preseason game, giving him 21 snaps at cornerback.

McCourty is one of the best free safeties in the league and a playmaker in the middle of the field. Moving him to his original position of corner isn't necessarily the best move, but it might be a necessary one for the time being.

(h/t Mike Reiss)

Per @caplannfl and me: #Patriots rookie CB Darryl Roberts (7th round, Marshall) has significant wrist injury that could threaten his season.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 24, 2015

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