A look at the Patriots’ game day roster for their Week 9 game against the Titans.
The New England Patriots have traveled to Nashville in hopes of winning their second game in a row and improving to 3-6 on the year. Standing in their way is a 1-6 Tennessee Titans team that will be without its starting quarterback. And while that does not make them pushovers by any stretch, the game seems ripe for the taking.
So, who will the Patriots rely on to do just that? Here you go:
Patriots game day roster
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye (10), Jacoby Brissett (7)
Running back (3): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), Antonio Gibson (4), JaMycal Hasty (39 | KR)
Wide receiver (5): DeMario Douglas (3), Kayshon Boutte (9), Kendrick Bourne (84), Ja’Lynn Polk (1), Javon Baker (6 | KR)
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 (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 (5): Jahlani Tavai (48), Christian Elliss (53), Sione Takitaki (16), Raekwon McMillan (50), 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 (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)
The Patriots have made some moves at wide receiver, with K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton both being made healthy scratches — an ominous sign two days ahead of the NFL trade deadline. In their absence, rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker will be in the spotlight. While it remains to be seen how much action they will actually see on offense, it seems likely they will see the field quite a bit with only five wideouts active.
Additionally, the Patriots are expected to start the same offensive line grouping for a third game this season and second straight. New England will use Vederian Lowe, Michael Jordan, Ben Brown, Michael Onwenu and Demontrey Jacobs for a third time since Week 6.
Defensively, Anfernee Jennings and Ochaun Mathis are the top two pure edge defenders with Joshua Uche traded to Kansas City. As usual, off-ball linebacker Jahlani Tavai as well as defensive linemen Keion White and Deatrich Wise Jr. will offer additional end-of-line depth beyond those two.
In the secondary, Kyle Dugger is again out which in turn means a bigger workload yet again for Marte Mapu, Jaylinn Hawkins and undrafted rookie Dell Pettus. All three received game balls after last week’s win over the New York Jets.
Patriots reserves
Inactives (5): S Kyle Dugger, DT Eric Johnson, QB Joe Milton III (emergency QB), WR K.J. Osborn, WR Tyquan Thornton
Practice squad (16): OL Liam Fornadel, LB Joe Giles-Harris, RB Kevin Harris, C Bryan Hudson, CB D.J. James, RB Terrell Jennings, OT Caleb Jones, ED Keshawn Banks, S Mark Perry, TE Mitchell Wilcox, OT Jalen McKenzie, TE Jack Westover, WR John Jiles, DT Marcus Harris, CB Miles Battle, WR Braylon Sanders
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
For the first time all season, the Patriots did neither elevate any players from the practice squad for game day nor rule anybody out before the contest. This obviously does not mean that all of their inactives are healthy scratches; Kyle Dugger was listed as questionable before the game with an ankle injury.
As for the rest of the reserves, the only change was cornerback Alex Austin getting designated to return from injured reserve. The team has three weeks to make that move, or else he will stay on IR for the remainder of the season.
The Patriots’ Week 9 game against the Titans will be kicked off at 1 p.m. ET at Nissan Stadium.