Patriots vs. Bills Thursday injury report: Jonathan Jones out, Julian Edelman among New England’s questionable

Thursday’s New England Patriots practice went on with temperatures nearing the teens.

But it did not go on with starting nickelback Jonathan Jones.

The Patriots have since ruled out Jones, who suffered a groin injury against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, for Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium against the Buffalo Bills. An additional four members of the roster are officially questionable, including wide receiver Julian Edelman for the sixth game in a row.

Here’s the final injury report between New England and Buffalo.

OUT

• Patriots: CB Jonathan Jones (groin)
• Bills: OT Ty Nsekhe (ankle)

The Patriots’ in-stadium practice marked the third straight absence for Jones. The Auburn product has played 1,604 snaps on defense and 1,030 snaps on special teams since arriving as an undrafted rookie in 2016. And all 62 games during the regular season over that span. New England will look elsewhere versus Bills slot receiver Cole Beasley, who was targeted a total of 13 times when the playoff-bound AFC Easters met in September. Jones conceded two catches to Beasley while working as his primary coverage.

And for Buffalo, Nsekhe will be sidelined for a fifth consecutive game. The veteran swing tackle’s ankle injury did not see him return to participation this week.

QUESTIONABLE

• Patriots: WR Julian Edelman (knee/shoulder), LB Jamie Collins (shoulder), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee), CB Jason McCourty (groin)
• Bills: DT Corey Liuget (knee)

Edelman logged 40 offensive snaps in New England’s Week 15 win over Cincinnati. But the wideout, now managing a knee injury in addition to a shoulder injury, collected a season-low two receptions for nine yards in the process. The Patriots’ questionables no longer include starting defensive tackle Danny Shelton. Previously listed with a shoulder injury of his own, Shelton avoided a game status on Thursday.

Liuget is the lone Bill questionable for the trip to Foxborough. The 29-year-old defensive tackle was among Buffalo’s inactives last weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a knee injury, yet has practiced in a limited capacity.