A look at the Patriots’ game day roster for their Week 10 game against the Bears.
The much-anticipated battle between first-round rookie quarterbacks Drake Maye and Caleb Williams may be the top story of the New England Patriots’ Week 10 game against the Chicago Bears, but it is far from the only one. For the Patriots, after all, it’s all about finally getting on some sort of track as they head into the second half of the season.
So, who will the Patriots rely on to get them there on Sunday in Chicago? Let’s find out.
Patriots game day roster: Week 10 vs. Bears
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye (10), Jacoby Brissett (7)
Running back (3): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), Antonio Gibson (4), JaMycal Hasty (39 | KR)
Wide receiver (6): DeMario Douglas (3), Kayshon Boutte (9), Kendrick Bourne (84), Ja’Lynn Polk (1), Javon Baker (6 | KR), K.J. Osborn (2)
Tight end (4): Hunter Henry (85), Austin Hooper (81), Jaheim Bell (88), Mitchell Wilcox (86)
Offensive tackle (2): Vederian Lowe (59 | LT), Demontrey Jacobs (75 | RT)
Interior offensive line (6): Michael Jordan (74 | LG), Ben Brown (77 | C), Michael Onwenu (71 | RG), Sidy Sow (62), Layden Robinson (63), Lecitus Smith (68)
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), Ochaun Mathis (32)
Linebacker (4): Jahlani Tavai (48), Sione Takitaki (16), Curtis Jacobs (52), Joe Giles-Harris (44)
Cornerback (6): Christian Gonzalez (0), Jonathan Jones (31), Marcus Jones (25 | PR), Marco Wilson (22), Marcellas Dial Jr. (27), Isaiah Bolden (29)
Safety (4): 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)
A brief look at the Patriots’ personnel for Sunday shows that the team has decided to go rather deep at both wide receiver and tight end, carrying six and four players respectively. While it remains to be seen how exactly all of the options will be used, the sheer number of players at those positions might point toward a pass-first game plan heavy on multi-tight end sets — something the Bears struggled to defend last week against Arizona.
Elsewhere, all eyes will again be on the offensive line. The expectation is that New England will go back to its Vederian Lowe-Michael Jordan-Ben Brown-Michael Onwenu-Demontrey Jacobs group, but nothing can be ruled out given the team’s apparent frustration with the state of the group as a whole.
Defensively, no big surprises for New England. One player to keep an eye on, though, will be off-the-ball linebacker Sione Takitaki. With Christian Elliss out this week, Raekwon McMillan released, and Ja’Whaun Bentley sidelined for the remainder of the season, the free agency pickup is in line to see his most extensive action as a Patriot.
Patriots reserves
Inactives (7): S Kyle Dugger, LB Christian Elliss, DT Eric Johnson, QB Joe Milton III (emergency QB), ED Yannick Ngakoue, OL Tyrese Robinson, WR Tyquan Thornton
Practice squad (14): OL Liam Fornadel, RB Kevin Harris, CB D.J. James, RB Terrell Jennings, OT Caleb Jones, ED Keshawn Banks, S Mark Perry, OT Jalen McKenzie, TE Jack Westover, WR John Jiles, DT Marcus Harris, CB Miles Battle, WR Braylon Sanders, LB Monty Rice
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 (IR-return), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, WR JaQuae Jackson, OT Caedan Wallace, ED Oshane Ximines
Commissioner’s exempt list (1): S Jabrill Peppers
The Patriots claimed outside linebacker Yannick Ngakoue off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens this week, but the former Pro Bowler was not made active. Neither was recent offensive line pickup Tyrese Robinson, who was signed off the Minnesota Vikings practice squad earlier this week.
The Patriots’ Week 10 game against the Bears will be kicked off at 1 p.m. ET at Chicago’s Soldier Field.