Kyle

Arrington

Arrington has eight tackles and an interception through two games. He’s depth in the secondary and a special teamer for the Pats.

It’s fitting that the former undrafted free agent out of Hofstra emerged as the Patriots’ top corner in 2011, leading the NFL with seven picks while recording 88 tackles. After topping all Pats defensive backs in snaps, Arrington should enter 2012 as a starter.

He now leads the NFL with seven interceptions, and is the only person keeping the Patriots secondary from becoming a practice squad All Star team.

A former undrafted free agent out of Hofstra, whose football program recently went under, Arrington more than rewarded the Pats for the two-year, $1.8 million extension they signed him to last July. His tackle efficiency was fifth best in the NFL, and Arrington also led the club with 13 pass breakups.

He’d be getting the nod over Kyle Arrington, who after putting up an NFL-high seven interceptions last season would work the slot in nickel situations. After being selected 33rd overall in the 2011 draft, Dowling started the season opener, but appeared in only two games due to injury.

He was benched after allowing Doug Baldwin’s 50-yard and 24-yard catches, the latter for a TD. Arrington was reinserted with New England’s nickel package and figures to keep his job, but he’s got to play better. On the season, Arrington has two pass breakups and no interceptions after leading the NFL with seven in 2011.

The Pats are putting in a full-pads practice, which suggests both players have been cleared for game action this week. With Aqib Talib returning from suspension in Week 11, New England is getting reinforcements for a beleaguered secondary.

Arrington took a helmet-to-helmet hit, and is most likely concussed. Sterling Moore is now in at right cornerback.

No longer a starter, Arrington is on track to play a reserve and special teams role against the Bills this week.

All three players were dinged up in Monday night’s win over the Texans. Talib left at the tail end of the first half and never returned, but he is expected to be ready to go for Sunday night. Dennard and Arrington left late in the contest. Arrington returned for a play, but Dennard never made it back on the field in the blowout win. They should all tentatively be expected to play this week. Talib and Dennard are the starters on the outside, while Arrington handles the slot.