Do the Patriots Always Have Key Injuries Every Year?

After hearing last week that Adalius Thomas had broken his arm and was possibly out for the year, I couldn’t help but wonder—is it just me who thinks so, or do the Patriots always have key injuries every year?

This year, they’ve arguably hit the injury bug the worst with key starters Tom Brady, Rodney Harrison, and Laurence Maroney all out for the year.

I decided to take a look at the Patriots' key injuries since 2004 and see just how serious their injury problems have been.

Key Injuries

Starting LB Adalius Thomas possibly out for the year

Starting QB Tom Brady put on injured reserve after week one

Starting RB Laurence Maroney put on injured reserve after week seven

Starting Safety Rodney Harrison put on injured reserve after week seven

Starting DE Richard Seymour started season on PUP list and missed first seven games

Starting LB Roosevelt Colvin put on injured reserve after week 11

Starting RB Sammy Morris, the leading rusher at the time, was put on injured reserve after week six

Eight players total were put on injured reserve

Starting Safety Rodney Harrison missed 11 games

Staring Safety Eugene Wilson missed 14 games and was put on injured reserve

Staring CB Randall Gay missed 15 games and was put on injured reserve

Starting LB Junior Seau put on injured reserve after week 12

Starting Punters Josh Miller and Ken Walter both put on injured reserve

17 total players were put on injured reserve

Starting LB Tedy Bruschi suffered a stroke and was put on PUP list for the first seven weeks of the season

Key CBs Duane Starks, Chad Scott, and Tyrone Poole all put on injured reserve, causing WR Troy Brown to fill in at CB

Starting OT Matt Light put on injured reserve

Starting Safety Rodney Harrison put on injured reserve

Starting Center Dan Koppen put on injured reserve

12 players total were put on injured reserve

Pro Bowl Starting CB Ty Law put on injured reserve

Staring CB Tyrone Pool put on injured reserve

Rookie Tight End Benjamin Watson missed 15 games and was put on injured reserve

Starting Tackle Tom Ashworth put on injured reserve

11 total players put on injured reserve

I know that most NFL teams generally suffer a key injury or two, but the Patriots suffer more key injuries than most teams. They averaged twelve players on their injured reserve the last four years (not including this year).

But even with all of the Patriots' key injuries over the last four years, they have remarkably averaged thirteen regular season wins, won a Super Bowl, had two Super Bowl appearances, had three AFC Championship appearances, and had four divisional game appearances.

After Tom Brady was lost for the season in their first game this year, many people assumed the season was over. Add the fact that three other key starters are out for this year, and it’s quite remarkable that the Patriots are 6-4 right now.

The one consistency the team has had during the last four years is head coach Bill Belichick. He is a master at moving guys around and finding players that can fill in adequately for his injured players.

In past years when everyone thought the Patriots were at their breaking point, they’ve always proven their critics wrong.  Many people still won’t admit the Patriots have a chance of making some noise this year since Brady’s injury.

However, Belichick is still coaching the team, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots as serious contenders by the end of the regular season.