The New England Patriots will conclude their 2024 season on Sunday by hosting the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. The team would secure the No. 1 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft with a loss, but will – at least according to first-year head coach Jerod Mayo – play for a win in Week 18.
To achieve this and improve their record to 4-13 this season, the Patriots will rely on the following players.
Patriots Game Day Slate: Week 18 vs. Bills
Quarterback (3): Drake Maye (10), Jacoby Brissett (7), Joe Milton III (19)
Revenant (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 ans), Titus Leo (97 ans), Truman Jones (54 ans)
Linebacker (4): Jahlani Tavai (48 years old), Christian Elliss (53 years old), Sione Takitaki (16 years old), Monty Rice (45 years old)
Cornerback (5): Jonathan Jones (31 ans), Alex Austin (28 ans), Isaiah Bolden (29 ans), Marcellas Dial Jr. (27 ans), Miles Battle (35 ans)
Security (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 made quarterback Joe Milton active for a game. The sixth-round rookie had previously served exclusively as a third-string emergency option; he dressed every week but was declared inactive and allowed to enter the game only in case Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett were injured.
Now in the matchday squad, Milton’s debut looks likely. In turn, the Patriots would take a preseason type approach to their finale and could potentially rotate all three of their pass rushers.
“It’s always helpful to see players who haven’t played as much during the season play a regular season game,” Mayo said this week.
In addition to Milton, the Patriots could also give an increased chance to other youngsters on their team at some point. 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.
Patriot Reserves
Inactive (6): OL Lester Cotton, CB Christian Gonzalez, RB JaMycal Hasty, TE Hunter Henry, OL Sidy Sow, TE Mitchell Wilcox (élévation PS)
Training team (9): RB Kevin Harris, CB DJ James, OT Caleb Jones, S Mark Perry, WR John Jiles, DT Marcus Harris, WR Braylon Sanders, LB Andrew Parker Jr., K John Parker Romo
International training team (1): Managing Director Jotham Russell
Reserve/Left team (1): OT Chukwuma Okorafor
Reserve/non-football related illness (1): 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 list. With the addition of non-activated Curtis Jacobs, that ends the 2024 season with 12 total players on an injury-related reserve list.
The Patriots’ season finale against the Bills will begin at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.
