Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Pats' special teams ace Slater latest to go down

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The New England Patriots' offense has been depleted with injuries through the first part of the season, but the defense has held up OK.

The special teams unit was doing all right, too, until now.

Karen Guregian of The Boston Herald reported Monday the Patriots will be without special teams ace and captain Matthew Slater four to six weeks thanks to a broken wrist. Slater is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the best kick and punt coverage players in the NFL.

Slater is also a backup option in a wide receiver group that is very thin with Danny Amendola out to injury and a group of rookies still trying to learn the pro game.

ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss wrote Tuesday that rookie practice squad safety Kanorris Davis could be a call up to help fill the void on special teams but that receiver Quentin Sims could also be a candidate from the reserve pool.

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