Gameday roster for the Patriots vs. Steelers: Bailey Zappe is surrounded by a reduced group of skilled players
On Thursday night, the New England Patriots offense—which leads the NFL in points scored heading into Week 14—will have to play without a few of its more effective players.
The team will be missing a number of important players as they take on the formidable Pittsburgh Steelers defense: wide receivers DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas, as well as running back Rhamondre Stevenson, are all out. There will only be three wide receivers available for New England because fellow wideout Kayshon Boutte is also sidelined.
Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Reagor, and JuJu Smith-Schuster have caught 33 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown between them so far this season.
Theoretically, if the situation called for it, practice squad member Malik Cunningham might also see some wide receiver snaps. In all likelihood, though, nominal TE1 Hunter Henry will share more work with tight ends Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown.
Ezekiel Elliott is under pressure while Stevenson is out. Little-used wide receiver Ty Montgomery, who may also be included in the wide receiver mix, and Kevin Harris, a player called up from the practice squad for the evening, join the seasoned player on the game day roster.
All told, the starting quarterback for the Patriots, Bailey Zappe, a backup who recently replaced struggling starter Mac Jones, will be surrounded by a reduced group of skill position players.
Having said that, let’s examine the 48-man roster for New England in Week 14.
Patriots lineup for game day
Quarterback (3): Malik Cunningham (16 | PS elevation), Mac Jones (10), Bailey Zappe (4)
Running back (3): Kevin Harris (36 | PS elevation), Ty Montgomery II (14 | KR), and Ezekiel Elliott (15).
Trent Brown, the left tackle, is someone to keep an eye on on Thursday night. Due to ankle and hand injuries, the veteran was listed as questionable to play in the game last week against the Los Angeles Chargers. He rotated with backup Conor McDermott. It will be critical for Brown to play at his typical high level and go wire-to-wire given the caliber of Pittsburgh’s edge rush.
The Patriots have gained some depth on the other side of the line of scrimmage with the return of defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr., who was sidelined by illness on Sunday. Keion White, a second-round rookie who was instrumental in taking the team captain’s place against the Chargers, could be impacted by his return.
Alex Austin will make his Patriots debut in the secondary. Due to fellow cornerback Shaun Wade’s illness, the seventh-round rookie, who arrived in early November, has made his first appearance on the game day roster.
The Patriots’ starting lineup on game day is 27.1 years old on average.
Patriots reserves (7): OT Vederian Lowe (59), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (38), WR DeVante Parker (1), WR Demario Douglas (81), RB Kayshon Boutte (80), RB JaMycal Hasty (39), CB Shaun Wade (26)
Squad for practice (14): DB QB Will Grier (19), LB Joshuah Bledsoe (24), CB Breon Borders (35), DE William Bradley-King (52), OL James Ferentz (65), Joe Giles-Harris, CB, aged 44 DE’s Azizi Hearn, 42 WR T.J. Luther (82), LB Trysten Hill (97), OL Kody Russey (66), TE Calvin Munson (43), K, OT Andrew Stueber (64), Matt Sokol (87), Matthew Wright (47
OT Calvin Anderson, WR Kendrick Bourne, DT Daniel Ekuale, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Marcus Jones, ED Matthew Judon, OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. are among the seven injured reserve players who are eligible to return: these players, along with the five other players already listed as inactive, are offensive tackle Vederian Lowe and running back JaMycal Hasty. Both players are currently limited to emergency duty, raising concerns about their long-term viability (particularly with linebacker Christian Elliss scheduled to return to the 53-man roster on Friday).
Riley Reiff, an offensive lineman, is one player who isn’t included here because, going forward, game day considerations won’t be relevant for him. Despite being scheduled to return from injured reserve a second time this season, he was unable to do so this time around because nothing was done during the 21-day window to activate him. As a result, Reiff will miss the rest of the season.
The Patriots and Steelers will play in Week 14 at Acrisure Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
