A look at the Patriots’ game day roster for their Week 6 game against the Texans.
All eyes will be on Drake Maye when the New England Patriots take the field against the Houston Texans. After spending the first five weeks in a backup role, the first-round rookie quarterback will make his starting debut on Sunday afternoon.
One player does not a team make, however. So, here is who will support him in Week 6.
Patriots game day roster
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye (10), Jacoby Brissett (7)
Running back (3): Antonio Gibson (4 | KR), JaMycal Hasty (39 | KR), Terrell Jennings (26)
Wide receiver (5): DeMario Douglas (3), Ja’Lynn Polk (1), Kendrick Bourne (84), K.J. Osborn (2), Kayshon Boutte (9)
Tight end (3): Hunter Henry (85), Austin Hooper (81), Jaheim Bell (88)
Offensive tackle (3): Vederian Lowe (59 | LT), Demontrey Jacobs (75 | RT), Zachary Thomas (72)
Interior offensive line (5): Michael Jordan (74 | LG), Ben Brown (77 | C),Michael Onwenu (71 | RG), Nick Leverett (51), Sidy Sow (62)
Interior defensive line (6): Davon Godchaux (92), Keion White (99), Deatrich Wise Jr. (91), Daniel Ekuale (95), Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (98), Jaquelin Roy (94)
Defensive edge (2): Anfernee Jennings (33), Joshua Uche (55)
Linebacker (5): Jahlani Tavai (48), Raekwon McMillan (50), Sione Takitaki (16), Christian Elliss (53), Curtis Jacobs (52)
Cornerback (6): Christian Gonzalez (0), Jonathan Jones (31), Marcus Jones (25 | PR), Marco Wilson (22), Marcellas Dial Jr. (27), Isaiah Bolden (29)
Safety (5): Kyle Dugger (23), Jaylinn Hawkins (21), Marte Mapu (15), Dell Pettus (24), Brenden Schooler (41)
Specialists (3): Joey Slye (13 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P | H), Tucker Addington (46 | LS)
While the offense and its young quarterback will be in the spotlight all day, the defense received some good news on Sunday. Safety Kyle Dugger makes his debut after a one-week absence due to an ankle injury; his comeback will likely result in more specialized roles for rotational safeties Jaylinn Hawkins, Marte Mapu — who played 100 percent of snaps last week — and Dell Pettus.
Dugger is the headliner on that side of the ball, but not the only player worth mentioning. Sione Takitaki will play in his first game as a Patriot after getting activated off the physically unable to perform list; in addition, cornerbacks Marcus Jones, Marco Wilson and Isaiah Bolden were both green-lit to play in the game after being listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report.
Back to the offense for a second and we can expect some changes at wide receiver compared to last week. Kendrick Bourne is set to increase his workload; K.J. Osborn is back; Tyquan Thornton is a healthy scratch.
In addition, New England seemed set to experience some continuity along its offensive line with all five starters from last week cleared to play. However, the Patriots will not go with the same grouping in back-to-back games for the first time all season: instead, from left to right, the O-line will consist of Vederian Lowe, Michael Jordan, Ben Brown, Michael Onwenu and Demontrey Jacobs.
Brown was signed off the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad this week and will nonetheless replace Nick Leverett as the starting center.
Patriots reserves
Inactives (7): WR Javon Baker, LS Joe Cardona, DT Eric Johnson, QB Joe Milton III (emergency QB), OL Layden Robinson, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR Tyquan Thornton,
Practice squad (14): OL Liam Fornadel, LB Joe Giles-Harris, RB Kevin Harris, C Bryan Hudson, CB D.J. James, OT Caleb Jones, ED Ochaun Mathis, S Mark Perry, TE Mitchell Wilcox, OT Jalen McKenzie, TE Jack Westover, C Sincere Haynesworth, WR John Jiles, DT Marcus Harris
Practice squad international (1): ED Jotham Russell
Reserve/left squad (1): OT Chukwuma Okorafor
Reserve/NFI (1): DT Christian Barmore
Reserve/PUP (1): G Cole Strange
Injured reserve (7): C David Andrews, OL Jake Andrews, CB Alex Austin, LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, WR JaQuae Jackson, OT Caedan Wallace, ED Oshane Ximines
Commissioner’s exempt list (1): S Jabrill Peppers
New England’s reserve lists saw a few changes since last week. Outside of the inactives — the biggest names on that particular list being Rhamondre Stevenson and Tyquan Thornton — the team also made one addition, and one return: Jabrill Peppers was moved to the commissioner’s exempt list following his arrest last weekend, while the aforementioned Sione Takitaki was activated from PUP.
The Patriots’ Week 6 game against the Texans will be kicked off at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.