The Patriots seem to have a long snapper problem
Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona had to leave Sunday’s practice early with an injury, and it sounds like the team could be without him for longer than that.
As reported by A couple injury updates from Foxboro: David Andrews appears to be OK after hurting his hand yesterday in practice, but Joe Cardona could potentially miss a little time after leaving midway through yesterday's workout.
Wise made three long snaps in a team field goal drill late in practice. His first snap was a little high, while the second one was on the money. His third snap had the highest chance of sailing into the backfield, but holder Jake Bailey handled all three well. Wise also long-snapped on what appeared to be a field goal blocking drill, with Bailey kicking and receiver Gunner Olszewski holding.
“I’ve been practicing [long snapper] for quite a while for some time,” Wise prophetically told reporters last week, after working on his snaps for a brief time. “Still a little rusty. Trying it out.
“I’ve been working on it after practice. It kind of got noticed my first two years, and they said keep working on it. They put me in one day to see how I’d do, and I did pretty solid.”
Wise described himself as the “next man up” if Cardona would have to miss time. But it wouldn’t be surprising if the Patriots brought in a more experienced long snapper, if necessary.
That could be Wes Farnsworth, whom the Patriots signed back in May before waiving him in June. Farnsworth played long snapper at Nevada from 2015-16.
Long snapper is certainly at or near the bottom of the list of most important positions on the team. But it’s always good to have continuity there, without having to worry about it in the first place. If Cardona has to miss extended time, it will create more work for the special teams units to get back on the same page.
MORE: Joe Cardona among three Patriots hurt at practice
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