Roster Evaluation: WR Stefon Diggs, LB Harold Landry III Journey to Nashville and Patriots Elevate Two Gamers for Sunday’s Sport vs. Titans

The Patriots are in Nashville for Sunday’s conflict with the Titans, and the excellent news is that every one 4 questionable Patriots made the journey on Saturday.

After being listed as questionable on the ultimate harm report, star WR Stefon Diggs (chest), LB Harold Landry III (ankle), S Jaylinn Hawkins (hamstring), and CB Charles Woods (knee) all made the journey to Nashville with the crew on Saturday. The Patriots additionally elevated RB Terrell Jennings and CB Miles Battles from the follow squad for Sunday’s sport in Tennessee.

Starting with Diggs, it is unsure when the Patriots main receiver sustained a chest harm, which has Diggs questionable for Week 7. Along with making the journey, Diggs additionally practiced at full capability in Friday’s last session, which is an effective signal for his availability this week. Diggs leads the crew in targets, receptions, and receiving yards whereas rising as a frontrunner within the locker room, so having him lively is important each week.

The extensive receivers have been a vibrant spot for the Patriots offense. After rating final a 12 months in the past, the Patriots wideouts rank eleventh in receiving yards via six weeks (879 yards) and have caught seven touchdowns. Diggs is the chief within the room, however third-year WR Kayshon Boutte is coming off a two-touchdown efficiency, whereas WR DeMario Douglas broke out with a 53-yard landing final week. New England has additionally gotten contributions from veteran Mack Hollins as a blocker and pass-catcher.

If they’re lacking their high receiver, one would count on that Boutte, Douglas, and Hollins will shoulder a lot of the workload. The Patriots may additionally give extra alternatives to rookie WR Kyle Williams. Williams has flashed separation capacity, however continues to be engaged on the main points to get on the identical web page as QB Drake Maye. There’s potential for Williams to emerge, however the first-year wideout has solely performed 16.9% of the offensive snaps with a number of veterans forward of him on the depth chart.

As for Landry, the veteran edge rusher suffered his ankle harm within the first quarter of final week’s win over the Saints. Landry returned to the sport after a quick absence, signaling that it is not a big harm, however he sat out the primary two practices this week earlier than returning in a full capability on Friday. Landry can be slated to return to Tennessee for the primary time since leaving the Titans to reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel this offseason. The former second-round choose by the Titans spent the primary seven seasons of his NFL profession in Tennessee, however the Titans launched Landry in March. For Landry, that is additionally probably a significant return to Tennessee.

The massive free-agent addition leads the crew in sacks (4.5) and complete pressures (25), a key cog within the Pats protection. If he cannot play, high backups Anfernee Jennings and Keion White can step into Landry’s position reverse starter K’Lavon Chaisson. New England has had harm points at edge defender, with Chaisson lacking the sport in Buffalo (Week 5) and Jennings and White sitting out final week’s win vs. the Saints. Now, Landry is in jeopardy of lacking a sport, however the veteran practiced in full on Friday and made the journey on Saturday, which bodes properly for his availability.

At security, Hawkins has not but been dominated out regardless of a lingering hamstring harm. The Pats beginning security missed final week’s sport vs. the Saints and didn’t take part in Wednesday’s follow. Hawkins then returned for the ultimate two practices of the week in a restricted capability. If Hawkins cannot play, New England will probably depend on vet Kyle Dugger once more, who began in Hawkins’ place final week. After solely taking part in one snap in Week 6, Dugger performed all 56 defensive snaps vs. the Saints. He obtained off to a tough begin when he was in protection on a 53-yard go to WR Chris Olave on the Saints first play from scrimmage, however defensive play-caller Zak Kuhr famous he put Dugger in a tough spot on a nook blitz. Besides the primary play, Dugger had a strong efficiency in New Orleans.

New England’s cornerback trio of Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and Marcus Jones has been rock-solid throughout its three-game successful streak. As a outcome, Woods, who’s questionable with a knee harm, has solely performed six snaps on protection over the past two weeks. He has had been the Pats fourth nook when referred to as upon and in addition performed 47.5% of the particular groups snaps. One would count on CB Alex Austin to be the subsequent man up on protection, however Battle’s elevation means that the first-year professional may fill Woods’ particular groups roles, if wanted. Woods has contributed to 4 completely different particular groups items all through the season, so Battle may have a big position within the kicking sport.

Lastly, the Patriots elevated RB Terrell Jennings from the follow squad for the second consecutive sport. Jennings did not play an offensive snap vs. the Saints, with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson dealing with all of the backfield snaps. However, Jennings was a kickoff returner alongside WR Efton Chism III, a pairing that’ll probably deal with kickoff returns once more this week, and he was on the Patriots punt return unit as properly. With another commonplace elevation remaining, the Patriots will ultimately have to signal Jennings to the 53-man roster to proceed activating him on sport day. Ultimately, that is a call for down the road, with Jennings now utilizing two of his three complete elevations by getting referred to as up for Week 7.

The final step earlier than kickoff is game-day inactives. With two gamers up from the follow squad, the Patriots should declare six gamers inactive. Typically, G Caedan Wallace, DT Eric Gregory, and QB Tommy DeVito (third QB) are inactive. With Chism having a task in kickoffs final week, it will be attention-grabbing to see who the extra inactive gamers are on Sunday.

The Patriots go to the Titans at Nissan Stadium with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET in Tennessee on Sunday.