Six New England Patriots players are officially out for Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, and if you’ve been watching this team’s defense, especially their secondary, this news is a gut punch. Head coach Mike Vrabel himself confirmed the team’s facing a major roster headache, saying, “We got six guys out. We’re going to make some roster moves. We got to have 48 for the game.”
The Secondary Is On Life Support
The biggest blows hit the defensive backfield. Perimeter starters Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III are both sidelined. Gonzalez, the guy who was making plays at Lumen Field against our Hawks a few weeks back, has missed six straight practices since late September and is now missing his second game with that shoulder injury. It’s a rough run for the All-Pro. Across from him, Davis was out of practice all week due to a neck injury, even after playing all 59 defensive snaps last Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in that 29-26 AFC East upset. And it gets worse for the already “scarce” cornerback depth chart: undrafted rookie Channing Canada, who was a late scratch for the Bills game with a hamstring, is out again. Plus, their fifth-round pick, Karon Prunty, is also dealing with a hamstring issue of his own and won’t suit up. That’s four corners gone! Who’s even left back there?
More Key Players Down, Stevenson’s Status Up In The Air
It’s not just the secondary feeling the pain. Veterans at fullback and wide receiver are also out for the game in Foxborough. Fullback Reggie Gilliam, who’s been grinding in his inaugural Patriots campaign with 58 downs on offense and 39 on special teams, started the week limited with knee and ankle problems and now he’s a definite absence. Then there’s wide receiver Mack Hollins. The 33-year-old went down with a non-contact calf injury after halftime against Buffalo and hasn’t practiced since. This is huge because Hollins is currently leading an A.J. Brown-less passing game in targets, catches, and yards. Losing his production is a massive hit to their offense.
And what about Rhamondre Stevenson? The downhill running back is “not out as of yet,” which Vrabel confirmed after Stevenson practiced in a limited capacity. He hobbled off with a knee injury on the final drive last Sunday after putting up 47 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion against the Bills. Losing him would be another devastating blow. With one open spot on the 53-man roster after promoting safety Mike Brown, and 2025 special teams captain Brenden Schooler eligible for activation, the Patriots are going to be scrambling to fill these holes.
The Patriots are walking into Gillette Stadium this Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff against the Raiders with their roster decimated, especially in the secondary. With so many key players out, including their top corners and a critical wideout, the coaching staff has their work cut out for them. How they’ll patchwork this defense and keep the offense moving without Hollins and potentially a hobbled Stevenson is gonna be the biggest question mark heading into game day. This is a crucial game for them, and they’re facing it incredibly shorthanded.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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