A look at the Patriots’ game day roster for their Week 16 game against the Bills.
Losers of four straight and eleven overall so far this season, the New England Patriots will face their toughest challenge to date on Sunday. Taking on the 11-3 Buffalo Bills on the road, the team of head coach Jerod Mayo will need to bring its A-game in order to stay competitive.
In order for that to happen, the Patriots will rely on the following players.
Patriots game day roster: Week 16 vs. Bills
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye (10), Jacoby Brissett (7)
Running back (3): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), Antonio Gibson (4 | KR), Terrell Jennings (26)
Wide receiver (6): Kayshon Boutte (9), DeMario Douglas (3), Kendrick Bourne (84), Ja’Lynn Polk (1), Javon Baker (6), Alex Erickson (14 | PR | PS elevation)
Tight end (3): Hunter Henry (85), Austin Hooper (81), Jaheim Bell (88)
Offensive tackle (3): Vederian Lowe (59 | LT), Demontrey Jacobs (75 | RT), Sidy Sow (62)
Interior offensive line (5): Layden Robinson (63 | LG), Ben Brown (77 | C), Michael Onwenu (71 | RG), Cole Strange (69), Lester Cotton (61)
Interior defensive line (6): Davon Godchaux (92), Keion White (99), Daniel Ekuale (95), Deatrich Wise Jr. (91), Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (98), Eric Johnson (96)
Defensive edge (3): Anfernee Jennings (33), Yannick Ngakoue (55), Titus Leo (97 | PS elevation)
Linebacker (4): Jahlani Tavai (48), Christian Elliss (53), Sione Takitaki (16), Monty Rice (45)
Cornerback (5): Christian Gonzalez (0), Jonathan Jones (31), Alex Austin (28), Marcellas Dial Jr. (27), Isaiah Bolden (29)
Safety (5): Kyle Dugger (23), Marte Mapu (15), Jaylinn Hawkins (21), Dell Pettus (24), Brenden Schooler (41)
Specialists (3): Joey Slye (13 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P | H), Joe Cardona (49 | LS)
Going up against one of the best offenses in football, the Patriots secondary will not have all hands on deck. While Kyle Dugger was cleared despite entering the weekend as questionable due to a combination of ankle injury and illness, two other starting defensive backs are out: neither Marcus Jones (hip) nor Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) have been deemed able to play in the game.
How the Patriots will replace them remains to be seen. At cornerback, A starting trio of Christian Gonzalez and Alex Austin with Jonathan Jones manning the slot seems most likely; at safety, Marte Mapu has returned to the game day roster after being declared a healthy scratch each of the last two games.
Speaking of Marcus Jones’ absence, his job as punt returner also has to be replaced. Filling in for the All-Pro candidate is recent practice squad addition Alex Erickson, who was standard-elevated on Saturday.
Change also might be coming to the offensive line. With Cole Strange set to make his season debut, New England’s interior grouping might be ripe for a shakeup: Strange replacing either left guard Layden Robinson (less likely) or center Ben Brown (more likely) could very well happen on Sunday, either with the starting lineup or as part of a pre-planned rotation.
Patriots reserves
Inactives (6): RB JaMycal Hasty, CB Marcus Jones, QB Joe Milton III, S Jabrill Peppers, OL Tyrese Robinson, OL Lecitus Smith
Practice squad (13): RB Kevin Harris, CB D.J. James, OT Caleb Jones, S Mark Perry, TE Mitchell Wilcox, TE Jack Westover, WR John Jiles, DT Marcus Harris, CB Miles Battle, WR Braylon Sanders, LB Andrew Parker Jr., DE Truman Jones, K John Parker Romo
Practice squad international (1): ED Jotham Russell
Reserve/left squad (1): OT Chukwuma Okorafor
Injured reserve (8): OL Jake Andrews, WR JaQuae Jackson, ED Oshane Ximines, LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, C David Andrews, OT Caedan Wallace (IR-R), LB Curtis Jacobs, DT Jaquelin Roy
New England’s reserve lists did not see any meaningful changes over the course of the week. The only noteworthy developments are the aforementioned Marcus Jones and Jabrill Peppers being made inactive.
The Patriots’ Week 16 game against the Bills will be kicked off at 4:25 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY.