Team news: New England Patriots | Page 4

Practice report:
DNP
LB Jamin Davis
TE Curtis Hodges (back)
RB Brian Robinson (hamstring)
DE James Smith-Williams (hamstring)

Limited

C Tyler Larsen (knee)

Full

CB Emmanuel Forbes (elbow)
G Saahdiq Charles (calf)

Related Players: Antonio Gibson, Chris Rodriguez

Not looking good for Robinson's Week 15 availability, as his injury came halfway through the team's Week 13 game, immediately before their bye week. GIbson logged 14 opportunities for 72 total yards two weeks ago, and would figure to be the RB1 once again, presenting a solid fantasy floor against the Rams.

Vikings’ WR Justin Jefferson told reporters that he will play Saturday in Cincinnati.

Related Players: Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, K.J. Osborn, Brandon Powell

Jefferson didn't last very long last week, but he did earn three targets on only eight routes. If he is good to go, it's going to be next to impossible to keep him on your bench, particularly with a great matchup against the Bengals.

Vikings All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson is officially off the injury report and set to make his return Sunday at Las Vegas.

Related Players: Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn, T.J. Hockenson

With a clean bill of health, Jefferson should be considered a WR1 for fantasy once again. He should be started everywhere.

For the first time since his hamstring injury, Vikings star WR Justin Jefferson was a full participant today at practice. He'll play on Sunday.

Related Players: Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn

Addison will fall back into FLEX considerations with Jefferson back, but could still produce, depending on how often the Vikings ask Joshua Dobbs to sling it around. Jefferson has to be back in WR1 conversations as one of the best route runners in the NFL.

Steelers RB Najee Harris (knee) didn't practice for a second consecutive day and is officially listed as questionable for Thursday night vs. the Patriots, who ruled out RB Rhamondre Stevenson.

Related Players: Jaylen Warren, Godwin Igwebuike, Anthony McFarland

Jaylen Warren would be in for a full bellcow workload if Harris were to miss, though the Patriots' run defense has been stout, even with teams sticking to the ground against them. New England ranks third in rushing yards allowed and first in yards per carry (3.2). Regardless, Warren should maintain plenty of passing work to make him a solid RB2 without Najee Harris.

Patriots ruled out for Thursday night's game vs. the Steelers: RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR Demario Douglas, WR Kayshon Boutte and OL Riley Reiff.

Related Players: Ezekiel Elliott, JaMycal Hasty, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster

Phew. An offense that needs all the help/luck they can get is dug even deeper with the absence of some key pieces. Ezekiel Elliott should get a huge percentage of the running back work, but even that is likely to keep him in the low RB2 considerations.

Starting any Patriots wide receivers should be a stay-away at this point, though Hunter Henry can be considered a de facto TE streamer with the team rolling out an extreme lack of consistent options.

Tests showed that Patriots’ RB Rhamondre Stevenson suffered a high ankle sprain.

Related players: Ezekiel Elliott, Ty Montgomery, JaMycal Hasty

The post went on to say Stevenson is expected to miss, in the words of a source, “a few weeks,” according to Schefter. Elliott looks to be in store for a bigger workload but we all know how the Patriots can operate at running back. And, the situation is further complicated by a not-so-good offense overall, so Montgomery and/or Hasty could also get involved at times. Stevenson owners should keep in mind there really isn't a need for the team to rush him back and it remains to be seen if he's a candidate for IR given his timeline.

Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson suffered a sprained ankle during Sunday's loss to the Chargers.

The Patriots have a short week coming up, so it's probably safe to assume Stevenson will not play Thursday against the Steelers, meaning Ezekiel Elliott will be in line to start. An MRI Monday will help determine how much time Stevenson will miss. It's the latest in what's been an extremely miserable season for New England, who fell to 2-10 after their 6-0 loss to the Chargers.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) both left the field Sunday.

Stevenson was injured on a hip-drop tackle against the Chargers, a tackle the NFL may look to ban next offseason and the tackle that took out Ravens TE Mark Andrews. The Patriots were shutout 6-0 by the Chargers to fall to 2-10 on the year. Robinson left the game against the Dolphins in the second quarter after seven rushes for 53 yards, which still led the team in their 45-15 loss to Miami to fall to 4-9.

WR Demario Douglas did enter concussion protocol, per source. He and RB/WR Ty Montgomery were the only players missing at Patriots practice.

Related Players: DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton

Douglas was trending towards being the only bright spot on the Patriots offense, but it's clear that they're not meant to have nice things in the 2023 season. Douglas has 133 yards and 12 catches on 18 targets over the last two weeks, but he may have a hard time suiting up in Week 13. Parker is the strongest bet to receive a higher target share if he misses, but New England is currently rotating three quarterbacks in at practice, hinting towards more bad game script.