Just eight days after getting promoted from the practice squad to the New England Patriots’ 53-man roster, rookie outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson is set to make his NFL debut. The fifth-round draft pick
was not named among the team’s six game day inactives, meaning that he will participate in Sunday’s contest versus the Cincinnati Bengals one way or the other.
“He’s worked hard. He’s improved,” head coach Mike Vrabel said about Swinson earlier this week. “I think he’s worked hard in the weight room, changing his body, getting stronger, learning special teams and doing a good job there. Give us a great look, and those coaches have done a great job of improving a lot of those guys and hopefully getting them ready here for when they have to play.”
New England’s full game day roster for Sunday looks as follows:
Patriots game day roster: Week 12 at Bengals
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye (10), Joshua Dobbs (11)
Running back (4): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), TreVeyon Henderson (32 | KR), Terrell Jennings (26 | KR), Jack Westover (37 | FB/TE)
Wide receiver (5): Kayshon Boutte (9), Stefon Diggs (8), Mack Hollins (13), DeMario Douglas (3), Kyle Williams (18)
Tight end (2): Hunter Henry (85), Austin Hooper (81)
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), Khyiris Tonga (95 | FB), Cory Durden (94), Eric Gregory (55), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (98 | PS elevation)
Defensive edge (6): Harold Landry III (2), K’Lavon Chaisson (44), Anfernee Jennings (33), Elijah Ponder (91), Caleb Murphy (45), Bradyn Swinson (43)
Linebacker (4): Robert Spillane (14), Christian Elliss (53), Jack Gibbens (51), Marte Mapu (15)
Cornerback (5): Christian Gonzalez (0), Carlton Davis III (7), Marcus Jones (25 | PR), Charles Woods (22), Alex Austin (28)
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)
While the Patriots will be without stalwart defensive tackle Milton Williams, who was sent to injured reserve last weekend after spraining his ankle in Week 11 versus the New York Jets, they are overall in good shape coming out off their mini-bye.
Several key players who recently missed time are consequently back in the lineup. That includes running back Rhamondre Stevenson, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, tight end Austin Hooper and linebacker Christian Elliss. How involved they will be remains to be seen, but their mere activity is a positive for their respective position groups.
The trickle-down effect from those returns also can be felt on special teams. With Stevenson and Boutte both back in the lineup and rookie wideout Efton Chism a healthy scratch, the Patriots will field a new kickoff returner. Running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings are the lead candidates to take over that role, while rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams also is a candidate to get a look.
Patriots reserves
Inactives (6): QB3 Tommy DeVito (16), WR Efton Chism III (86), TE C.J. Dippre (82), OL Caedan Wallace (70), DT Joshua Farmer (92), LB Jahlani Tavai (48)
Practice squad (15): RB D’Ernest Johnson (34), RB Rushawn Baker (49), RB Jonathan Ward (30), WR John Jiles (83), WR Jeremiah Webb (29), OL Sebastian Gutierrez (72), OL Andrew Rupcich (67), OL Brenden Jaimes (61), DT Leonard Taylor III (93), DT Fabien Lovett Sr. (96), LB Otis Reese (54), CB Miles Battle (35), 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 (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
While the Patriots decided to make one of their recent practice squad promotions active for Sunday’s game against the Bengals, the other has been announced as a healthy scratch. Undrafted rookie tight end C.J. Dippre, who was moved up to the 53-man team shortly after Bradyn Swinson, will not participate in the game and therefore continue to wait for his professional debut.
The Patriots’ game against the Bengals will kick off at 1 p.m. ET at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium.
