New England Patriots: Concerns at the Outside Linebacker Position

NOTE: This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net.

With all the injuries suffered on the New England Patriots defensive line, the injuries to the outside linebacker position have been overlooked a bit. 

Outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham missed the team's Tuesday practice due to a calf injury that he has been suffering the past three weeks. 

The team already has one starter slotted in for one of the two outside linebacker positions with Rob Ninkovich. But there's a question mark on the opposite side of Ninkovich. 

With Cunningham being "dinged" up, his position as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense needs to be replaced.

The other options are Tully Banta-Cain and Eric Moore. 

However, dating back to the Dec. 6 New England 42-point beat down of the Jets, rookie Dane Fletcher played a lot of snaps at the spot and could be used in some packages to confuse quarterback Mark Sanchez. 

Expect Banta-Cain and Cunningham to split the snaps at outside linebacker this week, with Fletcher and Moore mixing in there as well. 

The team will line up to play the Jets next Sunday at 4:30. 

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