The 3-10 Patriots still have one of the weaker rosters in the NFL, but injuries are becoming less of an excuse late in the season.
Yes, two captains — center David Andrews and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley — remain on injured reserve, and they’re clearly missed. But defensive tackle Christian Barmore, safety Jabrill Peppers, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, linebacker Sione Takitaki, linebacker/safety Marte Mapu and cornerback Alex Austin are all back on the 53-man roster, and offensive linemen Caedan Wallace and Cole Strange are on their way back.
Coming off of the Week 14 bye, the Patriots might actually be the healthiest they’ve been all season.
Let’s go through the roster to see where they stand in the present and the future.
Jacoby Brissett: On a one-year deal, Brissett has settled into his role as Drake Maye’s backup quarterback. He did take one snap on a short-yardage handoff to Bourne in Week 13. The idea was likely to sell the Colts on the idea that Brissett would be sneaking the ball. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring him back as a backup as long as he isn’t seeking a starting job.
Drake Maye: There isn’t a more important player in the organization than Maye, who has exceeded expectations as the Patriots’ starting quarterback and is getting better by the week. Maye has shown the potential to be one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks and wows with his accuracy, athleticism and ability to make off-platform throws.
Joe Milton: We have yet to see Milton since the preseason, but head coach Jerod Mayo has credited the sixth-round pick for improving in practice. He’s earned practice player of the week awards after wins this season.
Antonio Gibson: It’s been an odd season for Gibson, and it feels like we’ll be left wondering by the end of the year why he wasn’t used more in the run or passing games. Signed on a three-year deal, Gibson is averaging 4.7 yards per carry but has just 94 touches on the season.
JaMycal Hasty: Hasty’s primary job is on special teams, but he’s also been utilized as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher with 30 touches for 128 yards with a touchdown.
Rhamondre Stevenson: The Patriots’ bell-cow back, Stevenson signed a four-year contract extension before the season. He’s averaging career-lows with 3.7 yards per carry and 4.5 yards per reception, but he hasn’t been helped out much by his blockers. He also dealt with a fumbling issue early in the season.
Javon Baker: A disappointment, the fourth-round pick has yet to register his first NFL catch.
Kendrick Bourne: A one-week benching against the Bears seemed to serve Bourne well. He’s been a dependable option in the three weeks since.
Kayshon Boutte: One of the Patriots’ most improved players, Boutte caught just two passes as a rookie and is now the team’s top snap-getter at wide receiver. With 25 catches for 330 yards, a strong end to the season could get Boutte to 500 yards.
Demario Douglas: Douglas already hit a career-high with 52 catches and one touchdown. He’s 64 yards away from a career-high in production, as well. He’s not an every-down receiver, but he makes his presence known in obvious passing situations.
K. J. Osborn: Osborn has had trouble finding the field over the second half of the season. It’s been a disappointing season for the veteran wide receiver with seven catches for 57 yards.
Ja’Lynn Polk: There’s no easy way to put this: Polk is having one of the worst seasons by a wide receiver in recent memory. He’s played plenty but has just 12 catches on 31 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns to show for it.
Jaheim Bell: Bell was expected to cut his teeth on special teams before taking on an offensive role. That’s been the case this season for the seventh-round pick.
Hunter Henry: He has just one touchdown, but Henry is having a big season with 58 catches for 610 yards as Maye’s most dependable target.
Austin Hooper: The Patriots’ top veteran addition, Hooper leads the team with three receiving touchdowns with 31 catches for 337 yards.
Ben Brown: Credit Brown with picking up the offense quickly after being signed off the Raiders’ practice squad and providing a steady presence at center. We’ll see if he can maintain the job when Strange is healthy.
Lester Cotton: The Alabama product was claimed off waivers from the Dolphins. It seems unlikely we’ll see him start barring any major injuries.
Demontrey Jacobs: Claimed off waivers from the Broncos before the season, Jacobs has been a starter most of the season, seeing snaps at left tackle and right tackle. Expect him to be pushed by Wallace soon.
Vederian Lowe: The Patriots’ top left tackle, it seems unlikely he’ll keep that role in 2025. But at the very least, he’s proven he can be a solid backup.
Mike Onwenu: It’s been a down year for Onwenu, but it’s forgiven since he’s been moved from right guard to right tackle so many times. The team’s highest-paid offensive player, it would be nice to see Onwenu finish strong.
Layden Robinson: Mayo was happy with Robinson’s first career start at left guard in Week 12. Robinson was flagged for holding twice and led the team in pressures allowed. Let’s see if he can build off the performance as a potential starter in the future.
Tyrese Robinson: We have yet to see Robinson play a snap since he was signed off the Vikings’ practice squad last month.
Lecitus Smith: Currently the team’s backup center, the former Packer could lose that spot when Strange is healthy.
Sidy Sow: Sow spent all summer as the team’s starting left guard but quickly lost favor to start the season and has started just one game all year.
Cole Strange (injured reserve): The Patriots want to see what Strange can do at center as he returns from a knee injury that prematurely ended his 2023 season and ate up most of this year’s campaign.
Caedan Wallace (injured reserve): Wallace finally returned to practice Wednesday from an ankle injury suffered in Week 4. It would be huge if the 2024 third-round pick shows potential at right tackle to close the season.
Christian Barmore: Barmore missed half of the season with blood clots but returned in Week 11 after practicing just once. He hasn’t been his regular dominant self, but that’s to be expected as he settles back into his role.
Daniel Ekuale: His previous career high in snaps came in 2022 with 362. He’s already been on the field for 553 snaps this season.
Davon Godchaux: Signed through 2026 on a two-year extension before the season, the Patriots run defense should be better with Godchaux manning the middle.
Eric Johnson: The former Colt has played sparingly as he adjusts to a much different system in New England.
Jeremiah Pharms Jr.: Pharms had a dominant performance Week 10 against the Bears. It would be nice to see more of those flashes from the young defensive tackle.
Jaquelin Roy: The 2023 fifth-round pick joined the Patriots a quarter of the way through the season and earned heavy rotational snaps before a neck injury sidelined him.
Anfernee Jennings: The 2020 third-round pick is just 59 snaps away from a career-high in playing time. He’s still one of the league’s top edge-setting outside linebackers, but he’s being asked to do too much as a pass rusher.
Titus Leo: We have yet to see Leo play since being signed off the Colts’ practice squad.
Yannick Ngakoue: PFF has credited Ngakoue with two pressures since he joined the Patriots in Week 11.
Keion White: White has been one of the Patriots’ best defenders with 40 pressures this season. He has slowed down after a dominant four-game stretch to begin the 2024 campaign, however.
Deatrich Wise Jr.: The defensive captain has had a down season. He’ll be a free agent after the season.
Christian Elliss: Elliss has been one of the Patriots’ most improved players, taking on a heavier role on defense this season.
Sione Takitaki: Takitaki seemed like an ideal fit for the Patriots’ defense, but he began the season on the PUP list and hasn’t been able to carve out a consistent role.
Jahlani Tavai: More has been put on Tavai’s plate with Bentley out, and he’s struggled, especially in coverage, as a result.
Alex Austin: The second-year pro impressed in a losing effort to the Colts. He’s earned more snaps over the final four weeks of the season.
Isaiah Bolden: Bolden also played more defensively in a cornerback rotation against the Colts. He didn’t look out of place either.
Marcellas Dial: The rookie has played just two defensive snaps, but he’s been a core special teams player.
Christian Gonzalez: The Patriots’ best defensive player, Gonzalez has lived up to the hype this season. He’s PFF’s highest-graded cornerback since Week 10, when he’s allowed just eight catches for 74 yards with an interception and pass breakup.
Jonathan Jones: Jones is another player having a down season. The 31-year-old will be a free agent after the season, and he’s moved around a ton from cornerback to the slot and safety.
Marcus Jones: The undersized cornerback struggles against bigger cornerbacks at times. But he also has a propensity for forcing incompletions and brings value as a punt returner and gadget offensive player.
Kyle Dugger: The veteran cornerback has labored through an ankle injury after signing a four-year contract this offseason.
Jaylinn Hawkins: A smart free-agent addition, Hawkins has filled in admirably for Dugger and Peppers this season.
Marte Mapu: The 2023 third-round pick has been a healthy scratch in two of the Patriots’ last three games as the team has chosen to dress Hawkins and undrafted rookie Dell Pettus instead.
Jabrill Peppers: Peppers was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list before Week 13 and started against the Colts, though his captaincy was removed. He’s scheduled to go to trial on assault, strangulation and drug charges next month.
Dell Pettus: After Maye, Pettus has been the Patriots’ top rookie this season. His playful personality would have fit in the defensive back room in the 2010s with Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Logan Ryan and Patrick Chung.
Brenden Schooler: Still one of the top special teams players in the NFL, Schooler has also contributed on defense in the “Longhorn package.”
P Bryce Baringer: Baringer was a bright spot punting through the first half of the season but has had some stinkers in recent weeks. Let’s see if he can rebound after the bye.
LS Joe Cardona: A first-year captain, Cardona has been a steady snapper this season.
K Joey Slye: Slye ranks 16th out of 28 qualified kickers with a 71.5 PFF grade this season. That seems about right for the veteran kicker.