Week 8 Patriots vs Bills inactives: New England has only one tight end active; Josh Uche to make his NFL debut

In not even 90 minutes, the New England Patriots will play their seventh game of this year’s regular season, trying to improve to 3-4: the reigning AFC East champions will square off against a Buffalo Bills team that is heading into the contest with a 5-2 record and an eye on the division crown. 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

DT Carl Davis

S Kyle Dugger

CB Stephon Gilmore

WR N’Keal Harry

QB Brian Hoyer

TE Dalton Keene

The Patriots’ list of inactive players features plenty of prominent names, but only two who have not been known so far: third-string quarterback Brian Hoyer and tight end Dalton Keene joined the five others who have already been ruled out heading into the contest. Hoyer’s absence was to be expected given his spot on the depth chart, while Keene was hopeful to play after making the trip despite being listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report due to a knee ailment.

With him and fellow rookie tight end Devin Asiasi both out, the Patriots have only one tight end available to go against Buffalo: Ryan Izzo, who has served as the top option at the position so far this season, will try to add to his rather mediocre stat line this season of seven catches for 90 yards. Fullback Jakob Johnson, meanwhile, could also offer depth at the position.

With Keene and Hoyer joining the likes of Asiasi (personal reasons), Carl Davis (concussion), Kyle Dugger (ankle), Stephon Gilmore (knee) and N’Keal Harry (concussion), some other young players will get their chance to prove themselves: running back J.J. Taylor is back on the game day roster, while linebacker Josh Uche and cornerback Myles Bryant are set to make their debuts at the NFL level.

Uche in particular will be a name to watch after the Patriots spent a second-round draft pick on him in April. While he missed the team’s previous six games, he will offer additional depth in the front seven today.

Bills inactives

QB Jake Fromm

RB T.J. Yeldon

OT Cody Ford

CB Josh Norman

S Micah Hyde

DT Vernon Butler

DE A.J. Epenesa

Four of the Bills’ inactives have been ruled out because of injury: Cody Ford (knee), Josh Norman (hamstring), Micah Hyde (concussion) and Vernon Butler (groin). The others are all healthy scratches.