New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower hasn't been happy with his play so far this season. The former Alabama All-American played in only five games in 2017 because of a torn pectoral muscle, and he doesn't hold with the knocking-the-rust-off reasoning for his 2018 performance.
"I know I'm capable of playing better," Hightower said, "and I need to play better."
In New England's two games -- a 27-20 victory over the Houston Texans on Sept. 9 and a 31-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 16 -- Hightower has produced six tackles and recovered a fumble.