How it happened: Patriots take down Cardinals on Monday Night Football
GLENDALE, Ariz. — After entering Monday night’s game without four key contributors, the Patriots lost three more in the first half against the Cardinals.
Midway through the second quarter, the team downgraded wide receiver DeVante Parker (head) and cornerback Jack Jones (knee) to out after initially ruling both as questionable to return. Neither player took a snap in the second quarter.
At the start of the second half, the Patriots also downgraded running back Rhamondre Stevenson to out. He attempted to re-enter the game after suffering an ankle injury.
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“It was a little bit of a hectic injury game for us,” quarterback Mac Jones said after New England’s 27-13 win. “But you can’t control those things. Obviously, [Rhamondre] went down. He’s one of our best players.”
The three players added to the growing list of banged-up Patriots, joining running back Damien Harris (thigh), wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (concussion), cornerback Jalen Mills (groin), and offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn (foot) — all of whom were inactive for Monday’s game.
On New England’s second offensive drive of the game, Parker came up woozy after hitting the ground hard following a tackle by Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. Officials deemed the play a 10-yard catch, while Hamilton signaled incomplete. As the Patriots rushed to the line of scrimmage, Parker had difficulty getting into his stance.
The Cardinals challenged the ruling, which was upheld, giving Parker time to exit the game. He visited the locker room and did not return to the sideline.
Three plays later, Stevenson also left the field. On his third carry of the game, Stevenson rushed up the middle for 3 yards but stayed down after he was tackled. After receiving medical attention, he was able to walk off the field, gingerly, but under his own power and tried to jog as he reached the sideline.
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Stevenson visited the locker room and returned with a heavily taped left ankle. He re-entered the game for a series, registering three targets, but the Patriots later downgraded him. Rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong shared duties out of the backfield, with cornerback Marcus Jones also logging a few offensive snaps.
Jack Jones, meanwhile, was injured on New England’s second defensive series. He visited the blue medical tent, rode the stationary bike, and tested his knee on the sideline, but eventually left for the locker room and did not re-enter the game.
The Patriots will stay in Arizona for practice before traveling to Las Vegas for their game next Sunday. The team’s first injury report of the week will be available on Wednesday.
Read more about the Patriots’ win over the Cardinals
- Instant Analysis: The Patriots were hardly challenged by the Cardinals, but a convincing road win was just what they needed
- Shaughnessy: It wasn’t the prettiest football in a place filled with Patriots lore, but Mac Jones and Co. remain in the playoff chase
- In a game of really hard knocks, rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong carried the ball for Patriots in victory over Cardinals
- How it happened: Behind defense, New England scores 20 unanswered points to jump back into playoff race
- Cardinals QB Kyler Murray carted off vs. Patriots, injury ‘doesn’t look good’ according to Kliff Kingsbury
- ESPN pregame show questions Bill Belichick, and sheds more light on Matt Patricia-Mac Jones relationship
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her on Twitter @nicolecyang.