New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel didn’t soften his assessment after his team’s 45-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The defeat dropped New England to 5-4, and Vrabel said the Patriots had been thoroughly beaten.
He also said he wanted “48 guys out there that care” in Germany. The following morning, with the trade deadline approaching, Vrabel told WEEI that players who did not want to be with the team should make that clear.
## Vrabel Emphasizes Finding a “Way In”
Five days later, ahead of the Patriots’ game against the Detroit Lions, Vrabel was asked about running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver A.J. Brown. Both players were listed as questionable.
“We’re always looking for guys that are looking for ways in as opposed to ways out,” Vrabel said. He noted that after 10 consecutive weeks without a bye, few players are completely healthy, but the team still has to find ways to do its job. Vrabel specifically praised Stevenson as someone “looking for a way in.”
Stevenson, New England’s leading rusher, injured his knee against Green Bay and missed Wednesday’s practice. He traveled with the team and was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday.
Some fans interpreted Vrabel’s reference to players seeking “ways out” as a possible message to Brown, who had missed multiple games because of injuries. Others speculated about which player he meant, but Vrabel did not identify anyone as the target of that part of his comment.
## Brown’s First Patriots Season Disrupted by Injuries
Brown joined New England from the Philadelphia Eagles on June 1 in a trade involving a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round selection. The move reunited him with Vrabel, his former head coach with the Tennessee Titans.
The three-time Pro Bowler injured his ankle in the season opener in Seattle and missed four consecutive games. After returning, he dealt with a knee injury that kept him out of practice and sidelined him for games against the Miami Dolphins and Packers. Brown had appeared in just three of New England’s nine games, recording nine catches for 101 yards. He returned to practice Wednesday and was limited during the week.
Asked whether the team would need to protect Brown from himself when he returned, Vrabel said the Patriots had to trust their players and see how things developed. He also said he felt “pretty good” about both Brown and Stevenson after Thursday’s practice.
The 5-4 Patriots were scheduled to face the 6-2 Lions at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday at FC Bayern Munich Arena. The game was New England’s final contest before its bye week.
