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| The Patriots may be forced to lean on DE Trevor Scott on Sunday with rookie Chandler Jones expected to be sidelined with an ankle injury. (US Presswire) |
Trevor Scott went from being buried on the New England Patriots’ depth chart to a likely starter at defensive end Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
New England’s top defensive end Chandler Jones is expected to miss his second consecutive game with an ankle sprain, according to Comcast Sports Net, and top backup Jermaine Cunningham will be serving the first of a four-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. The expectation is that Scott will now move into the starting role.
“I feel like I’ll be ready for it,” Scott said. “You can’t control what goes on, but I will control what I do on Sundays, and I’ll go through preparing well this week and just get ready to win the game.”
Signed during the offseason as a probable starter, Scott was forced into a lesser role due to the unlikely rise of Jones and Cunningham. Jones, expected to be a project following April’s draft, has emerged as the team’s best pass rusher, and Cunningham came out of nowhere after a disappointing sophomore season.
As a result, Scott has played just 110 snaps this season. He logged more than 20 in a single game only once, a Week 11 win over the Indianapolis Colts. But he’s now preparing to step up Sunday against Miami.
“We have a setup so as soon as somebody goes down, it’s the next man in,” Scott said. “You’re expected to perform just as well as anybody else. That’s why we work hard every week to stay mentally and physically prepared.”
Nick Underhill covers the Patriots for MassLive.com. Follow him on Twitter @CBSPats or@Nick_Underhill.
