The New England Patriots are entering their prime time matchup with the New York Jets on Thursday with only one active tight end. Hunter Henry is holding the position group’s flag high after Austin Hooper
was ruled out due to a concussion.
The team did have the option to elevate rookie C.J. Dippre from the practice squad, but it opted against doing so. As a consequence, the cupboard is bare beyond Henry, who has played 81% of offensive snaps so far this season — or so it seems.
Fact is, after all, that Jack Westover originally played the tight end position before moving over to fullback this summer. While not of the same caliber as Hooper, who himself had played 56% of snaps and has caught 13 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown, he can take over some of the same responsibilities as a blocker in the run game. The same, to a lesser degree, is true for defensive tackle/fullback hybrid Khyiris Tonga.
New England’s full game day roster for Thursday night looks as follows:
Patriots game day roster: Week 11 vs. Jets
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye (10), Joshua Dobbs (11)
Running back (4): TreVeyon Henderson (32), Terrell Jennings (26), D’Ernest Johnson (34 | PS elevation), Jack Westover (37 | FB/TE)
Wide receiver (5): Stefon Diggs (8), Mack Hollins (13), DeMario Douglas (3), Kyle Williams (18), Efton Chism III (86 | KR)
Tight end (1): Hunter Henry (85)
Offensive tackle (4): Will Campbell (66 | LT), Morgan Moses (76 | RT), Vederian Lowe (59), Marcus Bryant (52)
Interior offensive line (4): Jared Wilson (58 | LG), Garrett Bradbury (65 | C), Mike Onwenu (71 | RG), Ben Brown (77)
Interior defensive line (5): Christian Barmore (90), Milton Williams (97), Khyiris Tonga (95 | FB), Cory Durden (94), Eric Gregory (55)
Defensive edge (5): Harold Landry III (2), K’Lavon Chaisson (44), Anfernee Jennings (33), Elijah Ponder (91), Caleb Murphy (45)
Linebacker (5): Robert Spillane (14), Jack Gibbens (51), Jahlani Tavai (48), Marte Mapu (15), Darius Harris (42 | PS elevation)
Cornerback (5): Christian Gonzalez (0), Carlton Davis III (7), Marcus Jones (25 | PR), Charles Woods (22), Alex Austin (28)
Safety (5): Jaylinn Hawkins (21), Craig Woodson (31), Dell Pettus (24), Brenden Schooler (41), John Saunders Jr. (23)
Specialists (3): Andy Borregales (36 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P/H), Julian Ashby (47 | LS)
Thursday will mark the debut for two regular members of the Patriots’ inactives list. Defensive tackle Eric Gregory and safety John Saunders Jr. are both on the game day squad for the first time. The two rookies joined the team in late August and late October, respectively: Gregory was claimed off waivers after getting released by the Cincinnati Bengals, with Saunders Jr. getting brought in from the Miami Dolphins practice squad in light of the Kyle Dugger trade to Pittsburgh.
Also back on the game day roster is Caleb Murphy, who played his first game as a Patriot last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Murphy did not play any snaps at his listed position at the edge, but he was on the field for 16 special teams snaps as a member of all four return and coverage teams.
Patriots reserves
Inactives (7): QB3 Tommy DeVito (16), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (38), WR Kayshon Boutte (9), TE Austin Hooper (81), OL Caedan Wallace (70), DT Joshua Farmer (92), LB Christian Elliss (53)
Practice squad (14): RB Rushawn Baker (49), RB Jonathan Ward (30), WR John Jiles (83), WR Jeremiah Webb (29), TE C.J. Dippre (82), OL Sebastian Gutierrez (72), OL Andrew Rupcich (67), OL Brenden Jaimes (61), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (98), DT Leonard Taylor III (93), ED Bradyn Swinson (43), CB Miles Battle (35), CB Kobee Minor (19), S Richie Grant (39)
Practice squad/exempt (1): TE Thomas Odukoya (88 | IPPP)
Practice squad/injured (1): RB Jashaun Corbin
Reserve/injured (8): FB Brock Lampe, OT Yasir Durant, CB Marcellas Dial Jr., DT Jaquelin Roy, RB Lan Larison, RB Deneric Prince, DT Isaiah Iton, RB Antonio Gibson
Reserve/retired (1): OL Wes Schweitzer
New England’s inactives list for Thursday night features some big names. Rhamondre Stevenson, Kayshon Boutte, the aforementioned Austin Hooper and Christian Elliss are all starter-caliber players at their respective positions.
The Patriots’ game against the Buccaneers will kick off at 1 p.m. ET at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
