In not even 90 minutes, the New England Patriots will play their ninth game of this year’s regular season, trying to improve to 4-5: the reigning AFC East champions will square off against a Baltimore Ravens team that is heading into the contest with a 6-2 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
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
G Hjalte Froholdt
CB Stephon Gilmore
QB Brian Hoyer
DT Isaiah Mack
RB J.J. Taylor
TE Jordan Thomas
After not ruling out any players on their Friday injury report, the Patriots now deactivated seven of them — including two who were listed as questionable heading into the weekend. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore will miss his third game in a row because of a knee injury, while linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley will be inactive for a second straight week due to an injured groin. Both participated in practice this week, but are apparently not yet ready to go in a game setting.
Gilmore and Bentley being the only injured players to be ruled out for tonight’s game also means that the other 14 questionables are good to go.
On the offensive side of the ball, this means that running back Damien Harris (ankle/chest), wide receiver N’Keal Harry (concussion), tight end Ryan Izzo (hamstring), offensive linemen Isaiah Wynn (ankle), Joe Thuney (ankle) and Shaq Mason (calf) are all active. Harry is returning after having missed the last two games following his concussion in Week 7 versus the San Francisco 49ers.
On defense, meanwhile, linemen Lawrence Guy (shoulder/elbow/knee) and Deatrich Wise Jr. (knee/hand) are good to go, as are linebacker John Simon (elbow), cornerback Jonathan Jones (illness), safeties Terrence Brooks (illness), Kyle Dugger (ankle) and Cody Davis (calf). Kicker Nick Folk (back) is also ready.
The rest of the players listed as inactive, meanwhile, are all healthy scratches — including new acquisitions Isaiah Mack and Jordan Thomas. The two recently joined the Patriots via the waiver wire, and are not yet at a point where the team felt comfortable playing them.
Ravens inactives
DT Calais Campbell
LB L.J. Fort
QB Trace McSorley
CB Jimmy Smith
DT Jihad Ward
After already ruling out Calais Campbell on Friday and listing Jimmy Smith as doubtful, three others have been deactivated by the Ravens on Sunday. This also means that running back Mark Ingram will return from his ankle injury.