As is typically the case during any given football season, a number of key Patriots players were dealing with injuries down the stretch of in 2021. Now that the season is over, we’re starting to see some of what was going on behind the scenes.
On Wednesday, center David Andrews shared a picture of himself in a hospital bed with his right arm in a sling after undergoing shoulder surgery. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Andrews is expected to be “ready for training camp, if not sooner.”
Patriots center David Andrews spent a good portion of the season on the injury report, and via his Instagram, he shares a peek behind the curtain of “surgery shmurgery” (and future draft pick James Ford). pic.twitter.com/0GnwxLgSKr
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 26, 2022
Andrews had been listed on the injury report and limited at practice from Week 13 through the end of the season with that shoulder injury. Despite the injury, Andrews played in and started all 17 games for the Patriots this year and was on the field for more offensive snaps (98.64 percent) than any player on the team.
Meanwhile, safety Devin McCourty was recently spotted in an ad with a bandage/cast on his right wrist. According to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal, McCourty had a “minor procedure” on his right thumb.
Like Andrews, McCourty’s injury didn’t take him off the field. He didn’t miss a game and led all Patriots defensive players with a 94.44 percent usage rate.
Daniels also added that McCourty, who is 34 years old and one of the Patriots’ 22 pending free agents, plans on playing again next season. Losing McCourty could be a big blow to the Patriots, who already need to sure up their secondary this offseason. Of course, the team still needs to work out a new contract with the multi-year captain in order for him to return, but it appears as though retirement is not on the table this year.
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.
