The 7-2 Patriots will take on the 6-2 Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. With running back Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) out, rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson and rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams will have to take on bigger roles.
Henderson is the Patriots’ leading rusher this season, while Williams has just two catches on six targets for 20 yards.
Here’s the Patriots’ full list of inactives:
QB Tommy DeVito (third emergency QB)
RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe)
WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring)
OL Caedan Wallace
DT Eric Gregory
LB Christian Elliss (hip)
S John Saunders
• DeVito can only play in Sunday’s game if Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs are both injured.
• The Patriots have signed running back D’Ernest Johnson from the practice squad. He will add depth behind Henderson and Terrell Jennings.
• The Patriots still have five available wide receivers: Williams, Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism.
• Wallace and Gregory have yet to be active this season. The Patriots are opting to go with left tackle Will Campbell, left guard Jared Wilson, center Garrett Bradbury, right guard Mike Onwenu, right tackle Morgan Moses, backup tackles Vederian Lowe and Marcus Bryant and center/guard Ben Brown on the offensive line. The Patriots go five deep on defense with Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga, Cory Durden and Joshua Farmer.
• The Patriots have signed linebacker Darius Harris from the practice squad. He joins Robert Spillane, Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai and Marte Mapu at linebacker.
• Saunders, a rookie, was taken off the Dolphins’ practice squad last week. He has yet to make his NFL debut. The Patriots will have Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler at safety.
• Edge defenseman Caleb Murphy will make his Patriots debut after being cleared off waivers last month.
• For the Bucs, running back Bucky Irving, wide receiver Chris Godwin and outside linebacker Haason Reddick are among the notable inactives.
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