Week 9 Patriots vs Packers inactives: Rob Gronkowski and Sony Michel OUT, Dont’a Hightower and Marcus Cannon return

In not even 90 minutes, the New England Patriots will play their ninth game of the season — a prime time matchup against the visiting Green Bay Packers. The Patriots, however, will not be at their best heading into the contest as a look at today’s list of inactive players shows:

Patriots inactives

TE Rob Gronkowski

RB Sony Michel

LB Nicholas Grigsby

TE Jacob Hollister

OT Cole Croston

OG Shaq Mason

OG Brian Schwenke

Starting right guard Shaq Mason was already declared out on Friday’s final injury report (as was backup Brian Schwenke), and he is now joined by two more offensive starters: tight end Rob Gronkowski and running back Sony Michel will both not play tonight — the first time this season that New England will have to enter a contest without both its top tight end and its early down running back.

In Gronkowski’s and Jacob Hollister’s absence, Dwayne Allen and versatile fullback James Develin will serve as the tight end depth chart. Meanwhile, James White and Kenyon Barner will likely again be joined by Cordarrelle Patterson as the running back group with Michel missing his second straight game due to a knee injury suffered in week seven.

While the Patriots will miss some core players, others listed as questionable two days ago will indeed be able to play — most notably offensive tackles Trent Brown and Marcus Cannon (the latter returning from an injury-related two-game absence), wide receivers Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon, and linebacker Dont’a Hightower (also returning after missing last week’s game).

Packers inactives

QB Tim Boyle

P Drew Kaser

CB Tony Brown

LB Korey Toomer

OL Justin McCray

OL Alex Light

WR Geronimo Allison