The Patriots game-day inactives are G Sidy Sow (ankle), WR Javon Baker, LB Curtis Jacobs, T Zachary Thomas, T Demontrey Jacobs, DT Eric Johnson, and QB Joe Milton is the emergency third quarterback.
After being added to the damage report on Saturday, beginning security Jabrill Peppers (hip) is lively. Peppers went by a pre-game exercise with trainers to check his hip, signaling that he was a real game-time determination on Sunday. Peppers is formally lively, however it’ll be price monitoring his utilization. If the Patriots beginning security cannot play his regular workload, New England will lean on veteran Jaylinn Hawkins and undrafted rookie Dell Pettus alongside standout security Kyle Dugger within the backend.
At broad receiver, it isn’t stunning that fourth-round rookie Javon Baker is a wholesome scratch this week. Though some will relate it to Baker’s current social media publish, this was considerably anticipated even earlier than that state of affairs. After beginning out sizzling in coaching camp, Baker cooled off by summer season’s finish when inconsistencies started exhibiting up in his recreation. Baker’s greatest points had been with ending contested targets and coping with the trials of bodily protection.
Though it is perhaps disappointing that the proficient rookie is a wholesome inactive, it is smart. Baker’s future remains to be vibrant, however he wants continued improvement. With out the rookie, the Patriots lively broad receivers are DeMario Douglas, Ok.J. Osborn, Ja’Lynn Polk, Tyquan Thornton, and Kayshon Boutte. Douglas, Osborn, Polk, and Thornton will doubtless play a lot of the snaps. Thornton (X) and Polk (Z) have taken over as starters. Douglas can even be closely concerned in three-receiver packages and passing conditions, whereas Osborn would possibly rotate in with Polk.
Transferring to the offensive line, it’s going to be attention-grabbing to see if Lowe, who was restricted in apply this week, components in at left sort out. Chuks Okorafor is the projected beginning left sort out for the Patriots, however Lowe has fared higher on the left aspect than Okorafor, a profession proper sort out. May the Pats rotate at left sort out? Would they transfer a number of items by flipping Okorafor again to proper sort out? Based mostly on current practices, the projected beginning line for the Patriots is LT Chuks Okorafor, LG Michael Jordan, C David Andrews, RG Layden Robinson, and RT Mike Onwenu. Nonetheless, Lowe and backup G/C Nick Leverett may think about someplace on Sunday.
It is also price noting offensively that RB Antonio Gibson (hip) is formally a go. Gibson popped up on the damage report this week, placing his standing doubtful, however he is formally lively, forming a one-two punch with lead-back Rhamondre Stevenson. Gibson and Stevenson will doubtless platoon within the backfield, with Rhamondre getting used on early downs and Gibson being an element as a selection/receiving again.
Together with Peppers’s standing, the opposite query mark for the Patriots protection was pass-rusher Joshua Uche (foot). Uche is formally lively. The sting rusher’s apply availability has been inconsistent since camp started as he tries to return to his 2022 type. On the identical time, camp standout Oshane Ximines has pushed Uche for taking part in time. Each Uche and Ximines may very well be within the Patriots stress bundle, however we’ll see how these two break up the snaps in a delegated pass-rusher position.
The Patriots protection is catching a break as Bengals star WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) is formally inactive. Higgins was added to the damage report mid-week, then did not apply on Friday. Now, he is formally out for Sunday’s recreation. Though they will not face Higgins, Cincy’s different star wideout, Ja’Marr Chase, is lively after some uncertainty about his contract standing and well being. Chase will play with out a new deal on Sunday following a prolonged “maintain in” over his contract. Nonetheless, the expectation is that he’ll play a restricted variety of snaps.
New England enters the primary regular-season recreation underneath head coach Jerod Mayo as a 7.5-point underdog in Cincinnati. Though they’re heavy highway underdogs, the door is open for an upset with the Bengals two-headed monster at broad receiver in flux for star quarterback Joe Burrow.
The Patriots start the 2024 season towards the Bengals with kickoff at 1 pm ET on Sunday.