Patriots injury report: Top punt returner ruled out, 5 others questionable vs. Bills
New England's return game is up in the air entering Week 16.
MORE PATRIOTS
The Patriots will be without their top punt returner in Buffalo on Sunday.
New England ruled cornerback Marcus Jones out of its Week 16 matchup due to a hip injury. The ailment kept him out of all three of the Patriots’ practices this week.
Jones has emerged as one of the team’s better corners this season, collecting 58 combined tackles and 48 solos, both of which being career highs. He’s also recovered two fumbles and logged an interception through 14 games (9 starts).
In lieu of Jones’s presence, New England could call on someone like Alex Austin or Isaiah Bolden to step up against the Bills.
Not only does Jones being out impact the secondary, but his absence also majorly affects the Patriots’ punt return game. He’s returned 26 punts this year for 386 yards, averaging 14.8 yards. It remains to be seen who will take his place during his first missed contest on Sunday.
Running backs Antonio Gibson and JaMycal Hasty (who is also out this week) plus wide receiver Javon Baker have all returned kicks this season. Fellow wideout DeMario Douglas has not returned a ball this season, but he did return punts during his rookie year in 2023.
As for Hasty, he will be sidelined alongside Jones, filling out the Patriots’ category of players unable to suit up versus Buffalo. Hasty is listed as having an ankle injury.
He’s returned 10 kicks this year for 238 yards (23.8 average).
New England has also listed five players as questionable heading into the weekend. Two offensive linemen in Cole Strange and tackle Caedan Wallace are 50/50 shots to play on Sunday with knee and ankle injuries, respectively.
Strange has yet to play in 2024 since being designated to return last month. He’s been recovering from a torn patellar tendon he sustained one year ago.
The Patriots activated Strange to their 53-man roster earlier this month when they waived WR K.J. Osborn, a sign that he could suit up soon. However, head coach Jerod Mayo didn’t promise that he will see the field in Week 16, or even this season, when asked about the player on Friday.
“… Cole has definitely battled his way back. I don’t want to say I’m sure, but hopefully we get to see him at some point,” Mayo said. “Now, we feel good about where we are up front, and that’s what we’re going to roll out there with.”
Wallace, however, was designated to return from his ankle injury last week, He sustained the injury in October, but could be activated to the roster ahead of this week’s matchup.
It’s hard to imagine that quarterback Drake Maye would be opposed to getting any sort of help he can get in front of him by having fresh legs in both Strange and Wallace return to play.
Rounding out the list of questionable players for Week 16 are safeties Kyle Dugger (ankle/illness) and Jabrill Peppers (hamstring). Dugger has been nursing his ailment for the majority of the season, while Peppers appeared on the injury report for the first time all week on Friday.
Defensive end Keion White was also a last-minute player to pop up on the report on New England’s final day of practice. The team says he’s dealing with a groin ailment.
As for Buffalo, the Bills listed S Damar Hamlin (rib), linebacker Matt Milano (biceps/groin), and S Taylor Rapp (neck) as questionable to play.
Here’s the full Patriots injury report, including players who were full practice participants on Friday:
OUT
CB Marcus Jones, hip
RB JaMycal Hasty, ankle
QUESTIONABLE
S Kyle Dugger, ankle/illness
S Jabrill Peppers, hamstring
OL Cole Strange, knee
OT Caedan Wallace, ankle
DE Keion White, groin
REMOVED FROM INJURY REPORT
WR Javon Baker, concussion
CB Christian Gonzalez, shoulder
LB Anfernee Jennings, knee
T Vederian Lowe, shoulder
LB Jahlani Tavai, groin
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com