Patriots Notebook: Sunday's Fallout

Are there changes coming to the Patriots' secondary... again? News and notes from this past weekend's game against the Chargers.

Changes in the secondary

Former starter and highest-paid cornerback Leigh Bodden has been used as a third option in the slot through the first two weeks of 2011. Bodden, who missed last season with a shoulder injury and is listed on the injury report of late with a back injury, has been a reserve while rookie second-round pick Ras-I Dowling has earned the opening nod and significant playing time in his first two career games.

BY THE NUMBERS:
The last time the Patriots lost in this series was the 2003 season opener in which Lawyer Milloy made his debut for the Bills less than a week after getting cut by Bill Belichick and led his new team to the 31-0 home shutout.

PLAYER NOTES

   --T Sebastian Vollmer made his season debut with the start at right tackle against the Chargers after missing the opener in Miami with a back injury.

   --CB Ras-I Dowling, a second-round pick who missed much of the preseason with a leg injury, started for the second straight week opposite Devin McCourty.

   --DT Mike Wright missed the home opener with a concussion suffered in Miami. Wright finished 2010 on injured reserve with effects from a severe concussion.

   --C Dan Koppen missed the first of what will be a long stretch of games with a broken leg, as Dan Connolly earned the start at center after filling in capably in the second half of the opener.

   --P Zoltan Mesko limped off with a left (kicking leg) injury in the third quarter against the Chargers, forcing coach Bill Belichick to go for a fourth-down play later in the fourth quarter.

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