The Patriots’ front seven could use some reinforcements, and it’s possible they’re about to get some help.
Linebacker Shea McClellin is eligible to return to practice this week. McClellin was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 4 because of an undisclosed injury after he missed most of the preseason.
McClellin could return to practice this week and to game action in two weeks, assuming he’s recovered and ready. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said on a conference call Tuesday that he would speak with team doctors before considering whether to make McClellin one of two players New England is allowed to bring back off IR under NFL rules.
“That’s a possibility,’’ Belichick said. “That’s something that we’ll talk about with the medical people before we start work this week and see where we’re at. If he’s ready, then it’s an option. If he’s not ready, then it’s not an option.’’
The Patriots would have to weigh McClellin’s potential return against the possibility of bringing back others from IR. Defensive tackle Vincent Valentine (knee) and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (hand) are also considerations, though ESPN reported that Mitchell is not close to being ready to return to practice and could miss all of 2017.
If healthy, though, McClellin would seem a strong candidate to return. The 6-foot-3-inch, 260-pound linebacker played in 14 games last season, starting four. The Patriots’ 30th-ranked defense (by points against) has 14 sacks and is surrendering 4.7 yards per carry, so they could use McClellin’s versatility and athleticism.
If and when the Patriots do activate McClellin, or any player off IR, they’ll have to make a corresponding move. Running back Brandon Bolden, a core special teamer, was re-signed to fill McClellin’s roster spot after he had been released at the beginning of September.
Third-down woes
The Patriots’ defense has made strides, giving up just 31 points in the past two games after surrendering 128 in the first four. But despite wins over Tampa Bay and the Jets, the defense’s performance on third down has been less than satisfying.
The Jets converted 9 of 17 third-down plays Sunday, including 6 of 10 in the first half. Most troubling was that the Jets converted on third-and-10, third-and-8, third-and-6, and third-and-5 en route to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Belichick stresses situational football, so it’s odd to see opponents cashing in on third-and-long when they spend so much time on it in practice.
“We work on it hard, as hard as anybody I believe in the NFL,’’ safety Duron Harmon said Sunday. “We’ve just got to be maybe a little bit more aware. Awareness, and maybe play a little bit better technique-wise.
“It’s not like we don’t know what’s going on. We work hard on that and we’re going to continue to work on that and it’s going to be a strength for us.’’
The Patriots will get another good test Sunday against quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, a team that converted 42 percent of its third downs last season.
Under new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, the Falcons are still near the top of the NFL in third-down conversions (45 percent).
“Obviously, taking a look at what they did last year there is a lot of carryover to the offense and there’s a lot of skill players that are back,’’ defensive coordinator Matt Patricia said. “I think Sarkisian has done a great job implementing the system that was already in place, plus adding his own variation to it and his style of offense, too. I would say what they’re doing right now is just a great job of a balanced attack.’’
Kicking it up
On Stephen Gostkowski’s opening kickoff Sunday, Jets receiver ArDarius Stewartcaught the ball 1 yard deep in the end zone and elected to run it out. He was tackled at the 12-yard line by Bolden.
Stewart’s decision to run it out gave the Patriots the early edge in field position, but Belichick wouldn’t admit to designing kickoff coverages to tempt opponents into passing on touchbacks.
“You make the best decision that you can based on the factors and what you’re trying to accomplish,’’ Belichick said. “Some of that is field position. Some of it is maybe how you want or don’t want the ball-handling to go based on what your opponents are doing with the return game. I’d say for us there are a number of factors that go into it. We talk about it and it’s not the same for every kick in the game, either.’’
Nora Princiotti can be reached at nora.princiotti@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @NoraPrinciotti.
