The New England Patriots’ offensive line has seen constant personnel change throughout the season, and the Week 16 primetime game against the Denver Broncos will be no different.
Compared to last week, two starters will not be available for the group. Left tackle Conor McDermott and left guard Cole Strange are both on (season-ending) injured reserve now after suffering injuries against the Kansas City Chiefs last week: McDermott sustained a concussion, while Strange was carted off after hurting his knee.
The Patriots will turn to Trent Brown and Atonio Mafi to take over at the respective positions. For Brown, this is nothing new: he is the nominal starter at left tackle anyway, but was in and out of the lineup recently due to multiple injuries. Mafi, meanwhile, will start his fifth game of the season on Sunday in place of Strange; the fifth-round rookie has had his struggles in his first four games seeing starter-level action.
In addition to those moves, the Patriots also addressed their depth this week. Veteran interior lineman James Ferentz was signed from the practice squad to the active roster, seemingly to help give the team an alternative option in case Mafi is unable to get the job done at left guard.
With all that said, let’s take a look at New England’s 48-man roster for Week 16.
Patriots game day roster
Quarterback (2): Bailey Zappe (4), Mac Jones (10)
Running back (3): Ezekiel Elliott (15), Kevin Harris (36), JaMycal Hasty (39)
Wide receiver (5): Demario Douglas (81 | PR), DeVante Parker (1), Tyquan Thornton (11), WR Kayshon Boutte (80), Jalen Reagor (83 | KR)
Tight end (3): Mike Gesicki (88), Pharaoh Brown (86), Matt Sokol (87 | PS elevation)
Offensive tackle (3): Trent Brown (77 | LT), Michael Onwenu (71 | RT), Vederian Lowe (59)
Interior offensive line (5): Atonio Mafi (68 | LG), David Andrews (60 | C), Sidy Sow (62 | RG), Jake Andrews (67), James Ferentz (65)
Interior defensive line (5): Christian Barmore (90), Davon Godchaux (92), Deatrich Wise Jr. (91), Lawrence Guy Sr. (93), Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (70)
Defensive edge (3): Anfernee Jennings (33), Josh Uche (55), Keion White (99)
Linebacker (6): Ja’Whaun Bentley (8), Jahlani Tavai (48), Mack Wilson Sr. (3), Marte Mapu (30), Chris Board (45), Christian Elliss (53)
Cornerback (5): Jonathan Jones (31), Myles Bryant (27), Alex Austin (28), Shaun Wade (26), Breon Borders (35 | PS elevation)
Safety (5): Kyle Dugger (23), Jalen Mills (2), Adrian Phillips (21), Brenden Schooler (41), Cody Davis (22)
Specialists (3): Chad Ryland (37 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P | H), Joe Cardona (49 | LS)
Besides the changes up front, the Patriots offense also will have to operate with a decimated skill position corps.
Ezekiel Elliott will again serve as RB1 with Rhamondre Stevenson still out due to a high ankle sprain, while the wide receiver group will once more be led by Demario Douglas and DeVante Parker as the top-2 options. At tight end, meanwhile, Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown now sit atop the depth chart due to Hunter Henry being absent.
Defensively, a few changes as well. Shaun Wade and practice squad elevatee Breon Borders round out the depth at cornerback this time around, helping replace J.C. Jackson who was sent to the non-football illness list this week. The safety corps, meanwhile, will miss Jabrill Peppers; Jalen Mills and Adrian Phillips should see increased opportunities as a consequence.
On special teams, meanwhile, the Patriots will have to operate without Matthew Slater. Brenden Schooler, Cody Davis, Chris Board and recently-added Christian Elliss will all play prominent roles in helping replace the All-Pro.
The average age of the Patriots’ game day roster this week, by the way, is 25.9 years — a full year younger than last week.
Patriots reserves
Game day inactives (7): TE Hunter Henry (85), S Jabrill Peppers (3), DE Sam Roberts (96), QB Nathan Rourke (13 | emergency QB), WR Matthew Slater (18), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (7), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (38)
Practice squad (10): DB Joshuah Bledsoe (24), DE William Bradley-King (52), LB Joe Giles-Harris (44), CB Azizi Hearn (42), DE Trysten Hill (97), CB William Hooper (34), WR T.J. Luther (82), OL Kody Russey (66), OT Andrew Stueber (64), RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn (43)
Injured reserve designated to return (1): OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Injured reserve eligible to return (9): OT Calvin Anderson, WR Kendrick Bourne, DT Daniel Ekuale, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Marcus Jones, ED Matthew Judon, OT Conor McDermott, OT Riley Reiff, G Cole Strange
Non-football illness (1): CB J.C. Jackson
The Patriots’ reserve groups have seen quite a bit of change since last week. Gone is practice squad quarterback Will Grier for example; he was effectively replaced by waiver claim Nathan Rourke as the third option at the position behind Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones.
In addition, as mentioned above, three players were sent to reserve lists: Conor McDermott and Cole Strange are now on IR, with J.C. Jackson on the non-football illness list. The former two are officially out for the remainder of the season, with the latter unlikely to return for the rest of the year as well.
The Patriots’ Week 16 game against the Broncos will be kicked off at 8:15 p.m. ET at Empower Field at Mile High.