The Patriots also will be without starting safety Kyle Dugger.
With the NFL trade deadline looming, have the New England Patriots just tipped their hand?
Outside linebacker Joshua Uche has been made a surprise healthy scratch for the team’s Week 8 game against the New York Jets. The 26-year-old has been rumored as a potential trade candidate recently, and holding him out seems to indicate the Patriots do not want to spoil any possible move in the works.
Uche has been an up-and-down player ever since arriving in New England as a second-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. While he repeatedly flashed immense pass rushing potential, his consistency has been lacking.
So far in 2024, he has registered just two sacks. Nonetheless, teams have shown interest in him as a potential mid-season pickup. His inactivity versus the Jets suggests as much as well.
The rest of the Patriots’ inactives look as follows:
Patriots inactives
- S Kyle Dugger
- DT Daniel Ekuale
- QB Joe Milton III (emergency QB)
- WR Ja’Lynn Polk
- G Layden Robinson
- ED Joshua Uche
The Patriots entered the weekend with two players already ruled out for the game against the Jets. Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk and Layden Robinson missed the entire week of practice due to their respective concussion and ankle issues.
Joining them on the inactives list are four of their teammates. Of those, two were also listed on the injury report heading into Sunday: safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) and defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale (abdomen) were both questionable to play. Neither has been given the green light to suit up.
This also means that eight of the 10 Patriots labeled as questionable have been cleared for action, though. Offensive linemen Vederian Lowe (ankle), Michael Jordan (ankle) and Sidy Sow (illness), defensive end Keion White (ankle), linebackers Raekwon McMillan (back) and Sione Takitaki (knee), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder, personal) and special teamer Brenden Schooler (illness) are all good to go versus New York.
Jets inactives
- RB Israel Abanikanda
- S Tony Adams
- S Ashtyn Davis
- DT Leki Fotu
- WR Allen Lazard
- G Alijah Vera-Tucker
- OL Carter Warren
The most prominent players on the Jets’ inactives list are starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and wide receiver Allen Lazard. The former was one of three players already ruled out on Friday, the latter was doubtful with a chest injury
Kickoff between the Patriots and Jets at Gillette Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET. New England is entering the game as 7-point underdogs, according to the latest odds provided by FanDuel.