Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports A look at the Patriots’ game day roster for their Week 17 game against the Bills. The New England Patriots’ offensive line simply cannot find stability. For the Week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the unit will have to operate without Trent Brown yet again, for example: the starting left tackle was ruled out despite being removed from the injury report on Friday. With Brown seemingly a healthy scratch, and with guard Cole Strange on injured reserve, the left side of New England’s O-line will be manned by Vederian Lowe and Atonio Mafi. Looking at both their seasons so far, it is clear that pass protection will be a major concern against a Bills defense ranking third in the NFL with 50 sacks. Lowe, who will start at left tackle in place of Brown, has given up a team-high 29 quarterback pressures this season despite only starting six games. Mafi, meanwhile, is ranked second on that list with 26 in four starts. While the rest of the line has found some stability with center David Andrews, right guard Sidy Sow, and right tackle Michael Onwenu starting their 10th game alongside one another on Sunday, the left side is an issue. The Patriots need Lowe and Mafi to show that they can elevate their play, or else the Bills’ pass rush might have a field day. With all that said, let’s take a look at New England’s 48-man roster for Week 17. Patriots game day roster Quarterback (2): Bailey Zappe (4), Mac Jones (10) Running back (2): Ezekiel Elliott (15), Kevin Harris (36) Wide receiver (5): DeMario Douglas (81), DeVante Parker (1), Tyquan Thornton (11), Jalen Reagor (83 | KR), Matthew Slater (18) Tight end (3): Mike Gesicki (88), Pharaoh Brown (86), Matt Sokol (87 | PS elevation) Offensive tackle (3): Vederian Lowe (59 | LT), Michael Onwenu (71 | RT), Andrew Stueber (64 | PS elevation) 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 (4): Anfernee Jennings (33), Mack Wilson Sr. (3), Josh Uche (55), Keion White (99) Linebacker (5): Ja’Whaun Bentley (8), Jahlani Tavai (48), Marte Mapu (30), Chris Board (45), Christian Elliss (53) Cornerback (5): Jonathan Jones (31), Myles Bryant (27 | PR), Alex Austin (28), Shaun Wade (26), Marco Wilson (19) Safety (6): Kyle Dugger (23), Jalen Mills (2), Adrian Phillips (21), Joshuah Bledsoe (24), Brenden Schooler (41), Cody Davis (22) Specialists (3): Chad Ryland (37 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P | H), Joe Cardona (49 | LS) Besides the continued offensive line shuffle, what also stands out is the state of the running back group. The Patriots decided to deactivate JaMycal Hasty for the game against Buffalo, leaving sophomore Kevin Harris as the lone backup behind Ezekiel Elliott — a sign of trust in the youngster. Also seeing action will be two recent roster additions. Marco Wilson will be active as the fifth cornerback after getting claimed off waivers earlier this week, with Joshuah Bledsoe offering depth at safety with Jabrill Peppers inactive; Bledsoe was promoted from the practice squad on Saturday. The average age of the Patriots’ game day roster this week, by the way, is 26.1 years. Patriots reserves Game day inactives (7): WR Kayshon Boutte (80), OT Trent Brown (77), RB JaMycal Hasty (39), TE Hunter Henry (85), S Jabrill Peppers (3), DE Sam Roberts (96), QB Nathan Rourke (13 | emergency QB) Practice squad (10): CB Breon Borders (35), 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), TE La’Michael Pettway (46), OL Kody Russey (66), RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn (43) Injured reserve designated to return (1): OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Injured reserve (15): OT Calvin Anderson, CB Isaiah Bolden, WR Kendrick Bourne, DT Daniel Ekuale, CB Christian Gonzalez, LB Terez Hall, CB Marcus Jones, ED Matthew Judon, OT Conor McDermott, LB Raekwon McMillan, WR Tre Nixon, OT Riley Reiff, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, G Cole Strange Non-football illness (1): CB J.C. Jackson New England’s reserve lists saw some changes since last week, most prominently on IR: Rhamondre Stevenson and JuJu Smith-Schuster were both moved there, ending their seasons. The two will therefore not be available on Sunday, and neither will be an inactives group including several other starters beyond the aforementioned Trent Brown. The Patriots’ Week 17 game against the Bills will be kicked off at 1 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium. Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2023/12/31/2 ... fl-week-17
