FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots have employed a three-man rotation with their "big" defensive tackles through the first quarter of the season, but a back injury suffered by the No. 3 option in the group might spark a change.
Rookie Vincent Valentine left Sunday’s 16-0 shutout loss to the Bills about halfway through the game and didn’t return. When I approached him in the locker room afterwards, he politely declined comment, saying he had to receive treatment.
If Valentine’s injury affects his availability for Sunday’s road game against the Cleveland Browns, the team would be down to just starters Alan Branch and Malcom Brown.