Patriots' Depth Will Be Tested Against Jets on TNF

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — With their Week 11 matchup against the New York Jets set to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots are hoping to continue their winning ways heading into Week 12.

The Patriots (8-2) enter this matchup on the heels of a 28-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets (2-7) are also fresh off a 27-20 Week 10 victory over the Cleveland Browns, their second win in as many weeks.

With just over an hour until kickoff, the Patriots and Bucs have released their lists of inactives.

PATRIOTS INACTIVES:

TE Austin Hooper

RB Rhamondre Stevenson

WR Kayshon Boutte

LB Christian Ellis

DE Joshua Farmer

G Caedan Wallace

QB Tommy DeVito (3rd QB)

What it Means for the Patriots:

Hooper was the lone non-participant for the entire slate of sessions in preparation for Week 11. His absence was due to a concussion, likely suffered during New England’s 28-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10. Hooper has performed well during his second season with the Patriots, having aligned on played 55.8 percent of the offensive snaps. The veteran has 13 catches for 174 yards and one touchdown. The Pats could elevate either C.J. Dippre or Thomas Odukoya from the practice squad to add depth behind starter Hunter Henry and fullback Jack Westover. 

Boutte, who suffered a hamstring injury during the Pats’ 24-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, left the game in the closing moments of first half and did not return. He was inactive for New England’s Week 10 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Through nine games this season, the Pats’ sixth-round pick [187 overall] in the 2023 NFL Draft, has become one of quarterback Drake Maye’s most-reliable offensive weapons — as well as a weekly big-play threat. He entered Week 9 having caught 23 passes for 431 yards and five touchdowns. Before leaving New England’s Week 9 game, he had zero catches on only one target. 

With Boutte officially sidelined, rookie Kyle Williams is once again expected to take on the majority of the LSU product’s vacated snaps. Williams (career-high 34 snaps) put himself in the national spotlight in Week 10 by scoring his first NFL touchdown on a 72-yard pass from quarterback Drake Maye — not only the longest pass of the quarterback’s career, but also the longest touchdown of the season for the Patriots.