In a little over an hour, the New England Patriots will play their final 2017 regular season game. Against the visiting New York Jets, the AFC's top playoff seed and homefield advantage throughout the conference's half of the tournament are on the line. But in order to secure all that, the team will have to defeat the Jets without some core players on offense and defense as a look at today's inactives shows:
DT Alan Branch
RB Rex Burkhead
OT Cole Croston
RB Mike Gillislee
WR Chris Hogan
LB David Harris
RB James White
Three of the players above have already been declared out on Friday: defensive tackle Alan Branch and tight ends Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee. The running backs are – as was expected – joined on the inactives list by fellow runner James White, who was limited all week due to an ankle injury. With three backs out, the Patriots will have only Dion Lewis and Brandon Bolden available at the position.
Also inactive is wide receiver Chris Hogan, who will miss his third straight game because of a shoulder injury. Hogan will again be replaced by a mix of Kenny Britt and Phillip Dorsett. Linebacker David Harris, on the other hand, is a healthy scratch because of the return of defensive signal caller Kyle Van Noy – Harris, who was inactive in week six as well, will also miss the second chance to play his ex-team.
The Jets inactives are as follows:
Jets inactives. #NYJvsNE pic.twitter.com/aeAegtnj3L
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 31, 2017
Brandon Shell is their starting right tackle, Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a big threat at tight end, and Muhammad Wilkerson is their $100 million defensive lineman.