The New England Patriots had already declared RT Marcus Cannon and LB Kyle Van Noy as out for Monday night’s game against the Miami Dolphins. The team subsequently downgraded three players from “questionable” to “out” on Sunday and DL Trey Flowers, RB Mike Gillislee, and ST Brandon King will no longer be expected to play.
#Patriots downgrade DL Trey Flowers, DB Brandon King and RB Mike Gillislee to out for #NEvsMIA.
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 11, 2017
Flowers will miss his second-straight week with a rib injury and that opens for the door for rookies Deatrich Wise and Adam Butler and the recently signed Eric Lee to have greater roles against the Miami Dolphins offensive line. Look for Trevor Reilly to have a larger role on the edge, too.
King is battling a hamstring injury and his absence will weaken a Patriots special teams unit that is already without Nate Ebner. Jonathan Freeny could be expected to step right in with just one week of practice back with the team.
Gillislee was expected to be a healthy scratch before he came down with an illness. Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead will play as previously expected.
New England will have to declare two more players out ahead of Monday’s game.