With seven players previously ruled out, the New England Patriots’ list of inactives for their Week 17 game against the New York Jets was largely determined by the final injury report. The team will be without wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (concussion), outside linebacker Harold Landry III (knee), linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle), nose tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot), left guard Jared Wilson (concussion), offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, and quarterback Tommy DeVito, who is designated as the emergency third quarterback. Defensive tackle Milton Williams (ankle) and wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) remain on injured reserve and are unavailable.
Wide receiver DeMario Douglas, listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, is active for Sunday’s game. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson has cleared concussion protocol and will also play. Both had exited last week’s win over Baltimore but return to bolster an offense missing three starters: Boutte, Hollins, and Wilson.
Mack Hollins was placed on injured reserve earlier this weekend due to an abdominal injury and must miss at least four games. He last played late in the fourth quarter against Baltimore before leaving for kneel downs. As New England’s leader in snaps among receivers and ranking third on the team in both receptions (46) and receiving yards (550), his absence is significant. Boutte suffered a concussion late in last week’s game; there is hope he could return for the playoffs.
The Patriots will have four active receivers: Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, and Efton Chism III. The likely starting combination features Williams at X-receiver, Diggs at Z-receiver, and Chism in the slot; Douglas may take slot snaps if able to play through his hamstring issue. The team may increase its use of two-tight end sets due to injuries at receiver.
New England has used two-tight end packages on just over 20% of offensive plays this season despite having experienced options Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper. Without Hollins—a versatile player who contributed both as a receiver and run blocker—the Patriots may rely more heavily on these formations moving forward.
Improving production from “12 personnel” groupings remains a priority; currently they average 3.5 yards per carry out of these sets—ranking near the bottom of the league—but are more successful passing from them with one of the top EPA per drop-back figures when using two tight ends.
At running back, Henderson joins Rhamondre Stevenson and D’Ernest Johnson as available options Sunday. Henderson returns after clearing concussion protocol following an injury sustained during last week’s game against Baltimore. Stevenson handled over 80% of snaps last week; his workload could remain high depending on how much Henderson plays post-injury.
On offense, Ben Brown is expected to start at left guard for Wilson after performing well in previous starts this season—allowing no sacks across two games—which led to a contract extension with New England.
Defensively, absences continue up front with Tonga out due to foot injury and Spillane sidelined by an ankle issue; Milton Williams remains inactive on injured reserve. To address depth concerns along the defensive line, Jeremiah Pharms Jr. was signed while Leonard Taylor III was elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s contest.
Linebackers Jack Gibbens and Christian Elliss are likely starters inside; Jahlani Tavai may split time between edge rusher roles and middle linebacker duties given other injuries at linebacker positions including Harold Landry III’s continued absence.
The Patriots face Jets third-string quarterback Brady Cook but must contain running back Breece Hall—who ranks among league leaders in explosive runs—and limit special teams opportunities where New York leads several statistical categories including kickoff return average.
Kickoff between New England and New York is scheduled for 1 p.m ET Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
