Team news: New England Patriots

Rex Burkhead was running well this season and looked to be in the discussion for the Patriots’ most effective back. However, that all came to an end Sunday when he suffered a season-ending knee injury that may end his time in New England.

Related players: Damien Harris, James White, Sony Michel

Burkhead will be a 30-year-old unrestricted free agent and may not be in the plans for the Patriots moving forward. Harris, White and Michel, who didn't play in Week 11 but was activated, will lead the way at RB. It could continue to be a cloudy situation when it comes to the New England running backs especially if Michel is activated for Week 12.

Patriots running back Rex Burkhead left Sunday’s loss to the Texans with a knee injury and the fear after the game was that he tore his ACL.

Confirmation on that initial diagnosis won’t come on Monday. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said that Burkhead did not travel back from Houston with the team on Sunday.

“He didn’t travel back with us from Houston. He’ll be coming back soon. We’ll do tests and evaluate him when he gets back,” Belichick said, via Doug Kyed of NESN.

Related players: Damien Harris, James White, Sony Michel, J.J. Taylor, Jakob Johnson

The story said further evaluation of his injury won’t happen until he does return. Michel is rumored to be back soon and would join Harris and White in the Patriots backfield assuming Burkhead is going to miss some time.

The Patriots are activating RB Sony Michel from injured reserve Saturday and he could play Sunday against the Texans.

This certainly makes for an interesting fantasy situation at the position for the Patriots, as Damien Harris has posted two games with 100 yards in the last three weeks and could continue to be the lead back in the group. How New England uses their former first-round pick after returning from a quad injury should be interesting but Michel has been practicing the past two weeks. Harris is currently a top-20 back and Rex Burkhead still sits in the top-25 for the moment in half-PPR.

During an appearance on WEEI Monday, quarterback Cam Newton offered no hints about when Edelman might be back but said that Julian Edelman’s condition has been improving.

“I can confirm he’s getting better,” Newton said. “He’s doing well. For him to be everything that he is — and I know he may be listening or he may be having his people listen — he’s good, man. Just to see him in good spirits and knowing that we’re doing our job as a team so when he comes back, it’s evident that he’ll have help at that position.”

The Patriots have won their last two games and their signs of offensive life could get a boost from Edelman. Edelman has missed the last three games after having knee surgery and is eligible to come off of injured reserve as soon as this week, the story said.