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In not even 90 minutes, the New England Patriots will kick off their tenth game of the season. While the team has slowly been getting healthier over the course of the week and did not declare any players out on Friday, it still will have to miss some core players against the Tennessee Titans today.
Patriots inactives
TE Rob Gronkowski
OG Shaq Mason
RB Kenjon Barner
OL Matt Tobin
DE Derek Rivers
SS Obi Melifonwu
CB Keion Crossen
The Patriots’ list of inactives includes two starters in Rob Gronkowski (ankle/back) and Shaq Mason (calf), but no real surprises: all of the players who will be out today are either dealing with injury — and will therefore receive an additional week off ahead of the week 11 bye — or find themselves near the bottom of the depth chart at their respective positions. Or, in the case of Obi Melifonwu, were just recently added to the team.
Of the six players listed as questionable on Friday’s final injury report all but Gronkowski and Mason will be active: offensive tackle Trent Brown, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, tight end Jacob Hollister, and running back Sony Michel will all play today. For Michel, it will mark his first game back since hurting his knee in week seven against the Chicago Bears.
Titans inactives
FB Jalston Fowler
RT Jack Conklin
WR Taywan Taylor
LB Derrick Morgan
S Dane Cruikshank
DL Matt Dickerson
OL Aaron Stinnie