New England Patriots
Buffalo listed CB Christian Benford (toe) as questionable and did not rule any player out entering the weekend.
Both the Patriots and the Bills will square off for the second time this season with relatively healthy rosters.
New England ruled out one player on Friday: running back Terrell Jennings (concussion). Jennings, the Patriots’ third-string RB, missed all three practices this week while in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Head coach Mike Vrabel announced that D’Ernest Johnson “will probably” take Jennings’s third-string role on what could be a snowy Sunday afternoon game in Foxborough.
“We’ll have to figure some things out now, this afternoon or tomorrow from the roster,” Vrabel told the media.
The team designated linebacker Robert Spillane (foot) as questionable to suit up in Week 15’s contest. Spillane was a limited participant in practice on Thursday and Friday.
Buffalo listed three of its players as questionable entering the weekend. Cornerback Christian Benford (toe), LB Terrel Bernard (elbow), and wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) are 50/50 shots to play.
Benford injured his toe during the Bills’ Thursday practice. WGRZ Sports’ Jonathan Acosta captured footage of Benford at Friday’s practice as a non-participant. The 25-year-old defensive back was not wearing a medical boot or shoe on his injured left foot.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said he isn’t sure if Benford will be able to play on Sunday, hence the player’s questionable mark.
“We really don’t know,” McDermott said to reporters on Friday. “Just 24 hours off of the incident, so we will see how today goes.”
Benford won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 13 following his impressive performance against the Steelers. He recovered a fumble and took it to the house for a 17-yard touchdown, the first score of his career. Benford also notched an interception, one solo tackle, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended.
As for the rest of the Patriots’ injury report, the team got good news on several players as the team returned to practice this week. Guard Jared Wilson was a full participant all three days of practice after being carted to the locker room with an ankle injury against the Bengals in Week 12. Wilson missed New England’s Monday Night Football bout with the Giants in Week 13, but looks ready to go two weeks later.
“Sometimes it appears to be one thing, you kind of see how it goes and it doesn’t end up being as bad, or sometimes it’s — every injury is different,” Vrabel said when asked about how fortunate the team is to have Wilson back this quickly. “But again, I’m glad that the way the players that have been out have worked to get back in there. Jared is in that group, obviously, and so it’ll be good to have him back in there. He’s continuing to improve.”
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (non-football injury/other) was not spotted during the media portion of Friday’s practice, but the player is good to go come Sunday. Vrabel said he decided to remove Barmore from the field toward the end of practice, but there is “no concern” with his health.
Fellow DT Khyiris Tonga (chest) is set to return after missing Week 13, as well as special teams ace Brenden Schooler (ankle). LB Harold Landry (knee) and offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (abdomen) were full practice participants on Friday. Landry had missed Thursday’s practice, while Lowe was limited on Wednesday and Thursday.
Kickoff between the AFC East-leading Patriots and No. 2 Bills is slated for 1 P.M. Eastern Time on Sunday at Gillette Stadium, the final time the teams will face each other this regular season.
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