In a little more than 90 minutes, the New England Patriots will play their 12th game of the season. Against the visiting Minnesota Vikings, the Patriots might very well field their strongest team of the season to date as a look at today’s list of inactive players shows:
Patriots inactives
TE Dwayne Allen
CB Duke Dawson
CB Keion Crossen
DT Danny Shelton
DE Derek Rivers
DE Keionta Davis
OL James Ferentz
Only one of the inactives was already declared out earlier this week: blocking tight end Dwayne Allen returned to practice this week after missing the Patriots’ week 12 contest due to a knee injury suffered two weeks earlier but was still downgraded on Friday’s injury report. His absence means that Rob Gronkowski and Jacob Hollister will again be the only two tight ends available, with fullback James Develin an emergency option at the position.+
The other inactive players are all healthy scratches — with one name in particular noteworthy: Danny Shelton. With Minnesota’s running offense being among the least productive in the NFL so far this season, the team opted to deactivate the big, early down defensive tackle for the first time all year long.
Meanwhile, Rex Burkhead returns: the running back was activated off injured reserve earlier this week and will play his first game since week three — one during which he injured his neck.
Vikings inactives
QB Kyle Sloter
WR Chad Beebe
RB Mike Boone
LB Devante Downs
OC Brett Jones
TE David Morgan
DT Jalyn Holmes
As the Vikings’ inactive list shows, two of the team’s questionable star players are active: wide receiver Stefon Diggs and cornerback Xavier Rhodes will both play today.