Patriots News
Patriots Practice Participation Report: Nearly 30% of Roster Listed

New England Patriots players have struggled with health and availability this season. It appears that the trend will continue in their Week 9 game against the Tennessee Titans. On Wednesday’s practice participation report, New England listed 16 players who were not full participants, fifteen of whom are on the 53-man roster. This accounts for nearly 30% of their 53-man roster.
The Patriots listed three players as DNP (did not participate). That group consisted of OT Vederian Lowe (ankle/shoulder), DT Jaquelin Roy (neck), and LB Christian Elliss (abdomen). All three played against the New York Jets last Sunday. Their status is worth monitoring as the week progresses.
New England listed 13 players as limited participants Wednesday.
Also Read – PFF’s Best and Worst Patriots Grades of Week 8
Concussion Protocol
The Patriots have two players in concussion protocol. QB Drake Maye suffered a head injury in the second quarter against the Jets on Sunday. WR Ja’Lynn Polk received his concussion a week earlier against the Jaguars. It appears both players are in the middle stages of their journeys to be cleared by the NFL to play.
There are five steps to concussion protocol. First comes rest and limited activities. Second, players can do aerobic exercise. Third is football-specific exercises. Fourth, players can participate in non-contact football drills. Finally, in phase five, players return to full football activity.
The only phases of concussion protocol that are generally announced are when a player is placed into concussion protocol and when they can return to full football activity. Based on their limited participation in practice, Maye and Polk are likely in phase three or four. Head coach Jerod Mayo would not discuss the hypotheticals of who would start at quarterback if Maye is cleared to play on Sunday.
Other Limited Participants
New England named nine others as having limited participation on Wednesday. The good news for the New England Patriots is that four players who missed Week 8 due to injury did practice, albeit limited. In addition to Ja’Lynn Polk, the other limited participants who sat out against the Jets were OG Layden Robinson (ankle), DT Daniel Ekuale (abdomen), and S Kyle Dugger (ankle).
The rest of the Patriots LP players consisted of RB Antonio Gibson (toe), OG Michael Jordan (ankle), DE Keion White (knee), LB Sione Takitaki (knee), LB Jahlani Tavai (back), CB Alex Austin (ankle), CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder), and S Marte Mapu (neck). Austin is currently on New England’s injured reserve list.
The New England Patriots (2-6) play road games against the Tennessee Titans (1-6) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on FOX. Tennessee listed nine players as DNP for Wednesday’s practice.