Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images A look at the Patriots’ game day roster for their Week 15 game against the Chiefs. The New England Patriots’ special teams operation has had its fair share of issues throughout the year, but it will look quite different on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs— at least when compared to last week’s group against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Let’s start with the roster moves: Ty Montgomery was cut after allowing a blocked punt versus the Steelers, with Christian Elliss claimed off waivers after his release from the Philadelphia Eagles. The change will not be 1-for-1, but Elliss is a four-unit special teamer probably from the get-go whose presence ideally will help stabilize the entire group. What he is not, however, is a return man. This means that the Patriots will use somebody else to run back kickoffs, the role previously held by Montgomery. The top candidates to take over appear to be Jalen Reagor and JaMycal Hasty — who himself is active for the first time since joining the Patriots — as well as Kyle Dugger. The other return spot also might see a change this week. With Demario Douglas back after missing two straight games, he is in line to take over from previous punt returner Myles Bryant. Given that Douglas is coming off his second concussion this season, however, the team might opt to play it safe and limit his exposure on a full-collision play such as this one. With all that said, let’s take a look at New England’s 48-man roster for Week 15. Patriots game day roster Quarterback (2): Bailey Zappe (4), Mac Jones (10) Running back (3): Ezekiel Elliott (15), JaMycal Hasty (39 | KR), Kevin Harris (36 | PS elevation) Wide receiver (5): Demario Douglas (81 | PR), DeVante Parker (1), Tyquan Thornton (11), Jalen Reagor (83), Matthew Slater (18) Tight end (3): Hunter Henry (85), Mike Gesicki (88), Pharaoh Brown (86) Offensive tackle (3): Conor McDermott (75 | LT), Michael Onwenu (71 | RT), Vederian Lowe (59) Interior offensive line (5): Cole Strange (69 | LG), David Andrews (60 | C), Sidy Sow (62 | RG), Atonio Mafi (68), Jake Andrews (67) 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 (4): Jonathan Jones (31), J.C. Jackson (29), Myles Bryant (27), Alex Austin (28) Safety (6): Kyle Dugger (23), Jabrill Peppers (5), Adrian Phillips (21), Jalen Mills (2), Brenden Schooler (41), Cody Davis (22) Specialists (3): Chad Ryland (37 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P | H), Joe Cardona (49 | LS) The changes to the Patriots’ game day roster extend far beyond special teams. On offense, for example, the wide receiver carousel continues to spin. This week, JuJu Smith-Schuster is out because of an ankle injury; the aforementioned Demario Douglas as well as DeVante Parker have returned. Up front, Trent Brown’s inactivity will also change things. He was in a rotation with backup left tackle Conor McDermott the last two games, but now will not be available at all. McDermott, meanwhile, will go up against a talented edge rusher in Mike Danna who has 6.5 sacks to his name so far this season. The defense, on the other hand, continues to look more or less the same it has over the last few weeks. The average age of the Patriots’ game day roster this week, by the way, is 26.9 years. Patriots reserves Game day inactives (6): WR Kayshon Boutte (80), OT Trent Brown (77), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (7), DE Sam Roberts (96), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (38), CB Shaun Wade (26) Practice squad (12): DB Joshuah Bledsoe (24), CB Breon Borders (35), DE William Bradley-King (52), OL James Ferentz (65), LB Joe Giles-Harris (44), QB Will Grier (19), CB Azizi Hearn (42), DE Trysten Hill (97), WR T.J. Luther (82), OL Kody Russey (66), TE Matt Sokol (87), OT Andrew Stueber (64), K Matthew Wright (47) Injured reserve designated to return (1): OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Injured reserve eligible to return (6): OT Calvin Anderson, WR Kendrick Bourne, DT Daniel Ekuale, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Marcus Jones, ED Matthew Judon The Patriots’ inactives list features three starters: the aforementioned Trent Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster, as well as running back Rhamondre Stevenson. The other three men listed with this group are healthy scratches. There also were some changes to the practice squad, with quarterback/wide receiver Malik Cunningham and linebacker Calvin Munson both leaving. Cunningham joined the Baltimore Ravens’ active roster, with Munson moving to the Miami Dolphins’ 53-man squad. Additionally, the team designated offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. to return from injured reserve. New England has 21 days to return him to its active roster, and so far that move has not happened. The Patriots’ Week 15 game against the Chiefs will be kicked off at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2023/12/17/2 ... fl-week-15
