The New England Patriots will be without one of their starting safeties for a second straight week. Jaylinn Hawkins, who rarely left the field between Weeks 1 and 5, will be out again versus the Tennessee Titans due to a hamstring injury.
In his place, former starter Kyle Dugger is set to see a heavy workload once again.
Last week versus New Orleans, he ended up playing all 56 defensive snaps and after giving up a 53-yard reception on the first play from settled down. He ended the game with three tackles
while the Patriots beat the Saints 25-19.
“Ready to go. Taking advantage of his opportunity,” said Mike Vrabel about Dugger this week. “Continue to work hard and improve on some things. Hopefully, we can use his length and he can find a way to tip a pass, break it up, continue to work, tackle, blitz and all the things that we ask him to do. So, he was ready for his opportunity.”
The Patriots’ full game day roster for Sunday’s game looks as follows:
Patriots game day roster: Week 7 at Titans
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye (10), Joshua Dobbs (11)
Running back (3): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), TreVeyon Henderson (32 | KR), Jack Westover (37 | FB/TE), Terrell Jennings (26 | PS elevation)
Wide receiver (6): Kayshon Boutte (9), Stefon Diggs (8), Mack Hollins (13), DeMario Douglas (3), Kyle Williams (18), Efton Chism III (86)
Tight end (2): Hunter Henry (85), Austin Hooper (81)
Offensive tackle (4): Will Campbell (66 | LT), Morgan Moses (76 | RT), Marcus Bryant (52), Vederian Lowe (59)
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), Joshua Farmer (92), Cory Durden (94)
Defensive edge (4): Harold Landry III (2), K’Lavon Chaisson (44), Keion White (99), Elijah Ponder (91)
Linebacker (5): Robert Spillane (14), Jahlani Tavai (48), Christian Elliss (53), Jack Gibbens (51), Marte Mapu (15)
Cornerback (4): Christian Gonzalez (0), Carlton Davis III (7), Marcus Jones (25 | PR), Alex Austin (28), Miles Battle (35 | PS elevation)
Safety (4): Craig Woodson (31), Kyle Dugger (23), Dell Pettus (24), Brenden Schooler (41)
Specialists (3): Andy Borregales (36 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P/H), Julian Ashby (47 | LS)
Jaylinn Hawkins is not the only defensive back unable to play on Sunday. Cornerback Charles Woods, who recently served as the team’s CB4, is also out because of a knee ailment. The expectation is that Austin will move up the depth chart into the top backup spot behind the starting trio, with practice squad elevation Miles Battle also active as emergency and special teams depth.
Elsewhere on defense, the team decided to activate outside linebacker Elijah Ponder again. Even though Anfernee Jennings went into the weekend without an injury designation — he previously dealt with an ankle issue that kept him out last week — he was not made active.
On offense, meanwhile, the Patriots again opted to go with six wide receivers. This means that undrafted rookie Efton Chism is active for a second straight game and set to resume his role as the top kickoff returner following Antonio Gibson’s season-ending knee injury.
Patriots reserves
Inactives (6): QB3 Tommy DeVito (16), OL Caedan Wallace (70), DT Eric Gregory (55), ED Anfernee Jennings (33), CB Charles Woods (22), S Jaylinn Hawkins (21)
Practice squad (14): RB Jashaun Corbin (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 Truman Jones (54), ED Bradyn Swinson (43), LB Darius Harris (42), CB Kobee Minor (19), S Richie Grant (39)
Practice squad exempt (1): TE Thomas Odukoya (88 | IPPP)
Reserve/injured (9): FB Brock Lampe, OT Yasir Durant, CB Marcellas Dial Jr., DT Jaquelin Roy, RB Lan Larison, RB Deneric Prince, DT Isaiah Iton, G Layden Robinson, RB Antonio Gibson
Reserve/retired (1): OL Wes Schweitzer
Besides the aforementioned Jaylinn Hawkins, Charles Woods and Anfernee Jennings being out, there are on surprises on the inactives list. In fact, it looks the same as last Sunday besides Woods replacing Keion White. Where there were changes over the last week were the practice squad, including New England signing international tight end Thomas Odukoya — a player head coach Mike Vrabel is quite familiar with.
The Patriots’ Week 7 game in Nashville will kick off at 1 p.m. ET.
