The New England Patriots will put a wrap on their 2024 season on Sunday, welcoming the Buffalo Bills to Gillette Stadium. The team would secure the No. 1 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft with a loss, but will — at least according to of first-year head coach Jerod Mayo — play for a win in Week 18.
To do so and improve to 4-13 on the season, the Patriots will rely on the following players.
Patriots game day roster: Week 18 vs. Bills
Quarterback (3): Drake Maye (10), Jacoby Brissett (7), Joe Milton III (19)
Running back (3): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), Antonio Gibson (4 | KR), Terrell Jennings (26)
Wide receiver (5): Kayshon Boutte (9), DeMario Douglas (3), Kendrick Bourne (84), Javon Baker (6), Alex Erickson (14 | PR | PS elevation)
Tight end (3): Austin Hooper (81), Jaheim Bell (88), Jack Westover (87)
Offensive tackle (3): Vederian Lowe (59 | LT), Demontrey Jacobs (75 | RT), Caedan Wallace (70)
Interior offensive line (5): Layden Robinson (63 | LG), Cole Strange (69 | C), Michael Onwenu (71 | RG), Lecitus Smith (68), Tyrese Robinson (65)
Interior defensive line (6): Davon Godchaux (92), Keion White (99), Daniel Ekuale (95), Deatrich Wise Jr. (91), Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (98), Eric Johnson (96)
Defensive edge (3): Anfernee Jennings (33), Titus Leo (97), Truman Jones (54)
Linebacker (4): Jahlani Tavai (48), Christian Elliss (53), Sione Takitaki (16), Monty Rice (45)
Cornerback (5): Jonathan Jones (31), Alex Austin (28), Isaiah Bolden (29), Marcellas Dial Jr. (27), Miles Battle (35)
Safety (5): Kyle Dugger (23), Jaylinn Hawkins (21), Dell Pettus (24), Marte Mapu (15), Brenden Schooler (41)
Specialists (3): Joey Slye (13 | K), Bryce Baringer (17 | P | H), Joe Cardona (49 | LS)
For the first time all season, the Patriots have made quarterback Joe Milton active for a game. The sixth-round rookie had previously served exclusively as a third-string emergency option; he did dress each week but was declared inactive and only permitted to enter the game in case both Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett got injured.
Now on the game day team, Milton making his debut seems likely. In turn, the Patriots will seemingly take a preseason-like approach to their finale and potentially rotate all three of their passers.
“It’s always helpful to see players who haven’t played as much during the season go out there and play in a regular season game,” said Mayo this week.
In addition to Milton, the Patriots also might give some other youngsters on their roster an increased chance at some playing time. Players to watch include running back Terrell Jennings, wide receiver Javon Baker, tight end Jaheim Bell, offensive tackle Caedan Wallace, outside linebacker Truman Jones and cornerback Isaiah Bolden.
Patriots reserves
Inactive (6): OL Lester Cotton, CB Christian Gonzalez, RB JaMycal Hasty, TE Hunter Henry, OL Sidy Sow, TE Mitchell Wilcox (PS elevation)
Practice squad (9): RB Kevin Harris, CB D.J. James, OT Caleb Jones, S Mark Perry, WR John Jiles, DT Marcus Harris, WR Braylon Sanders, LB Andrew Parker Jr., K John Parker Romo
Practice squad international (1): ED Jotham Russell
Reserve/left squad (1): OT Chukwuma Okorafor
Reserve/non-football illness (1): DT Christian Barmore
Injured reserve (11): OL Jake Andrews, WR JaQuae Jackson, ED Oshane Ximines, LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, C David Andrews, LB Curtis Jacobs, DT Jaquelin Roy, CB Marcus Jones, C Ben Brown, S Jabrill Peppers, WR Ja’Lynn Polk
New England made some additions to its injured reserve list on the eve of the season finale, removing Ben Brown (concussion), Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) and Ja’Lynn Polk (shoulder) from the active roster. With the addition of Curtis Jacobs not being activated, this ends the 2024 season with 12 total players on an injury-related reserve list.
The Patriots’ season finale against the Bills will be kicked off at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.
