Week 7 Patriots vs 49ers inactives: Rookies Kyle Dugger and Devin Asiasi out; David Andrews and Shaq Mason return

In not even 90 minutes, the New England Patriots will play their sixth game of this year’s regular season, trying to improve to 3-3: the reigning AFC East champions will square off against a San Francisco 49ers team that is heading into the contest with a 3-3 record. Before getting ahead of ourselves, however, let’s take a look at the players on both sides who have been declared inactive and will therefore not participate in today’s contest:

Patriots inactives

TE Devin Asiasi

CB Myles Bryant

DT Carl Davis

S Kyle Dugger

QB Brian Hoyer

RB J.J. Taylor

New England entered the weekend with one player already ruled out: defensive tackle Carl Davis suffered a concussion at one point over the last week and was deactivated on Friday. Today, five more players joined him — four of which healthy scratches: Devin Asiasi, who served as the Patriots’ number two tight end so far this season, will be absent, as will be fellow rookies Myles Bryant and J.J. Taylor as well as third-string quarterback Brian Hoyer.

Also inactive is safety Kyle Dugger, who was listed as questionable heading into the contest because of an ankle injury. With Dugger out, the Patriots will likely turn to Adrian Phillips, Joejuan Williams and Terrence Brooks to slow down talented 49ers tight end George Kittle.

The good news department, meanwhile, reports that the four other players listed as questionable are all good go to: wide receiver Julian Edelman (knee), guard Shaq Mason (calf), defensive tackle Adam Butler (shoulder) and linebacker Derek Rivers (back) will suit up for the game. All four are noticeable, with Mason returning after having missed the last two games.

Also active are fellow offensive lineman David Andrews, who spent the last three games on injured reserve after breaking the thumb on his right snapping hand, and — for the first time in his career — third-round rookie tight end Dalton Keene. With Asiasi out, the youngster will fill the second tight end role alongside Ryan Izzo.

49ers inactives

QB C.J. Beathard

LB Kwon Alexander

S Jaquiski Tartt

S Jimmie Ward

WR Dante Pettis

CB Parnell Motley

San Francisco is missing its two starting safeties, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt, and will also be without core rotational linebacker Kwon Alexander. Offensive tackle Trent Williams, meanwhile, is good to go after being listed as questionable on Friday.