The bye week could not have come at a better time for the New England Patriots. After playing football on 13 straight weekends, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel was nursing multiple injuries — leading
to several key players being out for the most recent game against the New York Giants.
While not all of them will be back against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday — LT Will Campbell (knee) and DT Milton Williams (ankle) remain on injured reserve, for example — the team is trending in the right direction. Three other core guys missing versus the Giants, after all, are set to make their comebacks: left guard Jared Wilson (ankle), defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (chest) and special teamer Brenden Schooler (ankle).
Add the fact that linebacker Robert Spillane has been cleared after dealing with a foot injury this week, and you get a team in the best shape possible with the AFC East title up for grabs on Sunday.
New England’s full game day roster against the Bills looks as follows:
Patriots game day roster: Week 15 vs. Bills
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye (10), Joshua Dobbs (11)
Running back (4): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), TreVeyon Henderson (32), D’Ernest Johnson (34), Jack Westover (37 | FB/TE)
Wide receiver (5): Kayshon Boutte (9), Stefon Diggs (8), Mack Hollins (13), DeMario Douglas (3), Kyle Williams (18 | KR)
Tight end (2): Hunter Henry (85), Austin Hooper (81)
Offensive tackle (3): Vederian Lowe (59 | LT), Morgan Moses (76 | RT), Thayer Munford Jr. (74)
Interior offensive line (5): Jared Wilson (58 | LG), Garrett Bradbury (65 | C), Mike Onwenu (71 | RG), Ben Brown (77), Caedan Wallace (70)
Interior defensive line (5): Christian Barmore (90), Khyiris Tonga (95 | FB), Cory Durden (94), Joshua Farmer (92), Leonard Taylor III (93 | PS elevation)
Defensive edge (5): Harold Landry III (2), K’Lavon Chaisson (44), Elijah Ponder (91), Anfernee Jennings (33), Caleb Murphy (45)
Linebacker (5): Robert Spillane (14), Christian Elliss (53), Jack Gibbens (51), Jahlani Tavai (48), Marte Mapu (15)
Cornerback (5): Christian Gonzalez (0), Carlton Davis III (7), Marcus Jones (25 | PR), Charles Woods (22), Miles Battle (35)
Safety (4): Jaylinn Hawkins (21), Craig Woodson (31), Dell Pettus (24), Brenden Schooler (41)
Specialists (3): Andy Borregales (36 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P/H), Julian Ashby (47 | LS)
The Patriots offensive line has been a model of stability earlier in the season, but it is bound to see more personnel turnover this week. However, this latest change is a positive: the aforementioned Jared Wilson will be back in the lineup after spraining his ankle versus Cincinnati in Week 12. This also means that New England will have started three different O-line combinations in its last three games.
Speaking of the offensive line, recent addition Thayer Munford Jr. is once again active. At this point in time, it is clear he has leap-frogged rookie Marcus Bryant on the tackle depth chart.
Defensively, the Patriots will roll out its best available unit as well. However, the group will look different than it did when it beat the Bills 23-20 in Buffalo in Week 5: the aforementioned Milton Williams is out, but K’Lavon Chaisson is back as one of the starting edges.
Patriots reserves
Inactives (6): QB3 Tommy DeVito (16), WR Efton Chism III (86), TE C.J. Dippre (82), OT Marcus Bryant (52), DT Eric Gregory (55), ED Bradyn Swinson (43)
Practice squad (14): RB Jashaun Corbin (30), WR John Jiles (83), WR Jeremiah Webb (29), OL Sebastian Gutierrez (72), OL Andrew Rupcich (67), OL Brenden Jaimes (61), OL Mehki Butler (63), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (98), DT Fabien Lovett Sr. (96), LB Otis Reese (54), CB Brandon Crossley (46), CB Kobee Minor (19), S Richie Grant (39), S John Saunders Jr. (23)
Practice squad/exempt (1): TE Thomas Odukoya (88 | IPPP)
Practice squad/injured (2): RB Craig Reynolds, LB Darius Harris
Reserve/injured (11): 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, DT Milton Williams, CB Alex Austin, OT Will Campbell, RB Terrell Jennings
Reserve/retired (1): OL Wes Schweitzer
New England’s reserve lists saw some turnover since the last game the team played, most prominently in the form of running back Terrell Jennings moving to IR.
The Patriots’ game against the Bills will kick off at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.
