Patriots’ Monday roster moves include activating Damien Harris, placing Sony Michel on injured reserve

Heading into their Monday night game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the New England Patriots have made a series of roster moves to bolster their depth — both for tonight’s contest and the upcoming games on their schedule: the team has activated running back Damien Harris and wide receiver Gunner Olszewski off injured reserve, while moving running back Sony Michel and Cody Davis to the list; wide receiver Isaiah Zuber was also elevated to the game-day squad.

RB Damien Harris: Activated to 53-man roster

One of the Patriots’ training camp standouts, Harris hurt his pinky finger in early September and had to undergo surgery. While the issue was not seen as a major problem at that time, the team decided to still move him to injured reserve in order to gain some roster flexibility heading into the regular season. Harris’ return will help bolster the Patriots’ running back group with Michel being sent to IR and give the team another option in the backfield.

RB Sony Michel: Placed on injured reserve

Coming off the best game of his season — one during which he gained 117 rushing yards on nine carries and also caught two passes for 23 yards — Michel popped up on New England’s injury report on Wednesday because of a quad issue. The ailment limited him all week in practice and later forced the team to deactivate him for the road game in Kansas City. Just a few hours after the deactivation was announced, Michel was sent to IR. Another bad break for the former first-round draft pick.

WR Gunner Olszewski: Activated to 53-man roster

A foot injury limited Olszewski leading into the season opener and the Patriots eventually declared him out for the contest. Instead of carrying him as a game day inactive, however, the team decided to just move him to injured reserve. Olszewski, like Harris, returned to practice earlier this week and now adds depth to a wide receiver group currently headed by Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry and Damiere Byrd as the top three options, with Jakobi Meyers and Isaiah Zuber behind them. Speaking of Zuber...

WR Isaiah Zuber: Elevated from the practice squad as a Covid-19 replacement

For the second week in a row, the Patriots have elevated the undrafted rookie from their practice squad to the game day roster — adding depth to a wide receiver position that has its top option, Julian Edelman, dealing with a knee injury. In his NFL debut last week, Zuber saw limited action but did register 13 yards on his lone rushing attempt. The difference between last week’s elevation and this week’s is that he joined the team as a Covid-19 replacement for Cam Newton, meaning that he will lose his spot on the roster again once the quarterback returns.

S Cody Davis: Placed on injured reserve

The only Patriot who suffered an obvious injury during Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Davis hurt his ribs while in the process of recovering the game-ending onside kick late in the fourth quarter. Davis remained on the ground after the hit and had to be attended by New England’s medical staff. He did get up again and eventually walked off the field under his own power, but missed all of this week’s practices.