Week 15 Patriots vs Steelers inactives: Danny Shelton a healthy scratch once again

The New England Patriots are one of the healthiest teams in the NFL right now. All 53 players on the active roster fully participated in practice all week long, and the team did list a single player on its Friday injury report. Consequently, the inactives list for their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers does not include any top-of-the-depth-chart players

Patriots inactives

DE Keionta Davis

CB Duke Dawson

DE Derek Rivers

OL James Ferentz

DT Danny Shelton

DB Obi Melifonwu

TE Jacob Hollister

All seven inactive players are healthy scratches: edge defenders Keionta Davis and Derek Rivers and offensive lineman James Ferentz are little more than emergency depth options at this point in time, while rookie cornerback Duke Dawson is in the middle of a redshirt season. The other three names on the list are rather interesting, though — the biggest of which being Danny Shelton, both literally and figuratively.

The defensive tackle will miss his third straight game, as the Patriots decide to roll with Lawrence Guy, Malcom Brown and Adam Butler as the interior linemen once again — a group that struggled mightily against the run, usually Shelton’s forte, last week. Meanwhile, number four safety Obi Melifonwu will sit out today’s game as does number three tight end Jacob Hollister.

Not listed among the inactives is Elandon Roberts. The Patriots’ number three linebacker was added to the injury report with a thigh issue yesterday and listed as questionable. However, it appears as if he will be good to go.

Steelers inactives

QB Mason Rudolph

S Marcus Allen

CB Brian Allen

RB James Conner

OT Zach Banner

LB Olasunkanmi Adeniyi

DE L.T. Walton

The biggest name on the Steeler’s list is James Conner, who was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. With him out, Jaylen Samuels and ex-Patriot Stevan Ridley will serve as Pittsburgh’s top-two at the running back position.