FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- As one of the key players of the New England Patriots' defense, linebacker Dont'a Hightower seldom leaves the field. The only time he might head to the sideline is in the dime package, when Jamie Collins is the lone pure linebacker on the field.
So it was notable in Sunday's win over Washington that Hightower came off for the second and fourth series of the second half, giving way to the combination of Jonathan Freeny and Jerod Mayo in the 4-2-5 nickel.
Hightower explained the absence during his weekly interview on sports radio WEEI on Monday, saying he was fighting "a little virus.