Two years ago Dion Lewis burst on the scene as a playmaking sensation in his first season in New England. He brought a unique run/pass threat to the Patriots offense.
Midway through that season he suffered a torn ACL and when he returned late last fall he admits he wasn't back to full health.
Now, fully healthy, Lewis has yet to have much of a role in the new-look New England offense through three games.
The speedy back told CSNNE.com that it's "tough" to have such a small role in the offense right now, having played just 32 snaps in three games. He also admitted he's heard trade rumors with his name involved.
CSNNE.com also looks at Tom Brady taking a lot of hits early in the season as well as Danny Amendola saying that he believes all Patriots players are going to stand for the national anthem on Sunday.
The* Boston Globe* notes that Brady said he’s “feeling pretty good” despite being sacked five times on Sunday against Houston. The Globe offers up the things you need to know about the Panthers leading up to Sunday's game at Gillette. The Globe also has Amendola saying he and his teammates will be standing for the anthem.
The Boston Herald wonders what’s wrong with the Patriots NFL-worst defense. The Herald calls Brady’s hot start an age-defying act. Do Patriots players want to know if they have CTE? The Herald says the answers are mixed.
Despite his late arrival in New England, the *Providence Journal *says Cassius Marsh is settling in on the Patriots defense. The *ProJo *notes Brady saying he feels better and faster than ever.
ESPNBoston.com says the Patriots are flirting with trouble if they don’t start to limit the hits that Brady is taking. ESPNBoston.com looks at the challenge the New England faces dealing with Carolina rookie running back Christian McCaffrey. Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly admits he “might have got away with one” in the controversial ending when the Patriots lost in Carolina on Monday Night Football back in 2013. ESPNBoston.com breaks down the Patriots struggles with Deshaun Watson as they prepare for another athletic quarterback in Cam Newton.
Speaking of that 2013 meeting with the Panthers, WEEI.com notes Brady may owe referee Clete Blakeman an apology.
NFL.com predicts the Patriots will beat the Panthers 30-20 on Sunday. Not surprisingly, NFL.com says that New England is one of the teams that’s started the season 2-1 that will make the playoffs. NFL.com ranks Brady as the top QB in the league through three weeks of football.
CBSBoston.com offers up three Panthers to get familiar with prior to Sunday's kickoff.
