Patriots Face Green Bay Without Key Playmakers
New England’s roster is depleted by injury and illness as it hosts the Packers at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday.
By Riya Zhao ·
The New England Patriots enter Sunday’s home game against the Green Bay Packers without two primary offensive weapons. Wide receiver A.J. Brown and running back TreVeyon Henderson were ruled out on Friday, forcing the team to rely on backups for the contest at Gillette Stadium.
Henderson’s absence stems from an unexpected medical emergency involving unexplained neurological issues. He revealed the diagnosis earlier this week and is expected to remain sidelined for an extended period. Brown, limited by a high-ankle injury sustained in the season opener and a knee problem, has played in only three games. The Patriots will likely turn to veteran Mack Hollins, Efton Chism, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams to fill the receiving void. Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to handle the majority of the rushing load in Henderson’s place, with Cory Kiner and Lan Larison providing depth.
New England improved to a 5-3 record last week after Drake Maye led a second-half comeback against the Miami Dolphins. The quarterback recovered from a 13-3 halftime deficit to secure the win. The Patriots face a similar record for Green Bay, which defeated the Carolina Panthers last week. Packers quarterback Jordan Love leads the NFL with 2,246 passing yards this season, averaging 280.8 per game. Green Bay is missing linebacker Zaire Franklin due to a shin injury. Star edge rusher Micah Parsons returned to practice this week to recover from ACL surgery but is not yet ready to play.
The Patriots’ defensive secondary received a boost with the return of cornerback Carlton Davis. Davis has managed a neck issue for several weeks and was limited in practice earlier in the week. He is active for Sunday. Veteran tight end Hunter Henry also returned to the active list after suffering a foot injury against Miami. Henry missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday but was able to play in limited fashion on Friday.
Cornerback Charles Woods is out with a hamstring injury. The backup defensive back had provided quality snaps while New England managed secondary injuries. Offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover is the team’s only healthy scratch. Will Campbell has been healthy all season, while Morgan Moses has dealt with a foot issue recently. Behren Morton is the emergency third quarterback for the ninth time this season.
Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Fox. The Patriots will honor the 2016 championship team during the weekend. This follows the induction of Rob Gronkowski into the Patriots Hall of Fame and the first return of Tom Brady to Foxborough as a Fox broadcaster.
