Team news: New England Patriots

The Vikings have started the clock on getting a couple of special teamers back in the lineup.

The team announced on Tuesday that kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola have been designated for return from injured reserve.

Related players: Parker Romo

Romo has gone 11-of-12 on field goals and 7-of-8 on extra points with Reichard out of the lineup. It's not yet clear which kicker will be in action this week. The Vikings are in the early Sunday window at home against the Falcons.

Jerod Mayo says Kendrick Bourne is expected to play this weekend.

Related Players: Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Ja'Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn

Kendrick Bourne didn't log a snap in the Patriots' 19-3 Week 10 win, as there seems to be a riff between the WR and the coaching staff, or at the very least, he's been pushed all the way down the depth chart. We should continue to see some of the younger guys earn more playing time as the season closes down, but none of them are fantasy priorities until one emerges in the clouded target share.

Head coach Jerod Mayo said that [a recent] run of events were a sign of the stamp that Drake Maye is already putting on the team.

“Drake has addressed the offense numerous times,” Mayo said, via a transcript from the team. “I think it goes back to now he’s starting to really take control of the offense and the team. When you go out there and you perform at a high level, that’s the first step. The next step is to bring others with you, and I think he’s on his way to doing that.”

The story said Maye addressed the offense after a poor practice on Wednesday. Maye said after Sunday’s game that he stressed that the “little things are adding up and hurting us” while trying to push the team to be sharper, the story said. Maye and the Pats won 19-3 over the Bears this past week. Maye should only have a chance to keep getting better and better as the Pats will put more pieces around him going forward.

Vikings K Will Reichard, one of the NFL's best, is headed to IR.

Related players: John Parker Romo

The Vikings are signing Romo, the post went on to say. Romo is a former undrafted free agent with the Saints. The post added Romo was with Minnesota this offseason and will now make his debut.

Patriots QB Drake Maye cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday against the Titans.

Maye suffered the concussion last week against the Jets on a hit by linebacker Jamien Sherwood that landed the defender a fine. The Titans usually sport one of the better defenses but cornerback L’Jarius Sneed will not play. Still, given the worries about the offense, Maye ranks outside our top 25 quarterbacks this week.

Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt says the team is going into the week open-minded about the QB situation.

Van Pelt says he's very hopeful that things keep going the way they're progressing with rookie QB Drake Maye in concussion protocol.

Otherwise, Van Pelt won't discuss injuries.

Related Players: Jacoby Brissett

Looks like they're going to run this down to the wire after it was announced that Maye is in "phase three" of the five-phase protocol yesterday. If Brissett gets the start, all New England fantasy options get a downgrade.

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye left Sunday’s game against the Jets as he was being evaluated for a concussion.

Head coach Jerod Mayo said after the game Maye wanted to return, “the competitor he is”, as Mayo put it, but he has to go through protocol. Jacoby Brissett came on in relief and led New England to a last-minute score and a 25-22 win. The Patriots head to Nashville next week for a date with the Titans.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) - who foreshadows that he thinks he can play on Sunday - was a full participant in practice today and is listed as questionable.

Related Players: Antonio Gibson

Stevenson finds himself back in a fantastic option and should be considered a fantasy RB2 once again.

No sign of RB Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) at the media-access portion of practice for the third straight day.

Related Players: Antonio Gibson, JaMycal Hasty

If Stevenson misses Week 6 (which seems likely), Gibson jumps up into a very interesting role, possibly as a consistent check-down option in Drake Maye's first start. It won't feel great, but he can be considered a borderline RB2 in that scenario.

With the season getting away from them, the Patriots are turning to Drake Maye.

Related players: Jacoby Brissett

There were feelings among those who follow the Pats a change at QB could occur this week, and sure enough it has. As the post pointed out, Brissett has been underwhelming to say the least, and, the team has no true road games for the next three weeks, even though they will play in London in Week 7. So a change now does make some sense as the team was likely looking for the best window possible. Maye and NE will host the Texans this week and then home again in Week 8 against the Jets. The hope is Maye will bring a spark to the offense but it doesn't change the fact the Patriots offensive line is a struggle.