FOXBORO — The Patriots are two days out from their divisional-round playoff matchup with the Texans, and so they at the moment have an open spot on their 53-man roster.
The spot opened up when the Patriots waived veteran running back D’Ernest Johnson on Monday. He cleared waivers Tuesday and re-signed to the observe squad.
The Patriots at the moment have two choices to hitch the 53-man roster by means of activations from injured reserve in working again Terrell Jennings (concussion protocol) and cornerback Alex Austin (wrist).
“We’ll type of see the place they’re tomorrow, see the place we’re on the roster,” head coach Mike Vrabel stated Friday. “I feel that that’s one thing that might occur. And once more, if you’re at 52, you might have some area, however in the event you recover from 53, then any person’s obtained to go. We’ll simply see the place we’re at tomorrow.”
Jennings is formally questionable to play on Sunday. The Patriots might want to add a working again to their gameday roster to function depth behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson by both activating Jennings or elevating Johnson from the observe squad.
The group will most likely elevate defensive deal with Leonard Taylor III from the observe squad for Sunday’s sport. Newly-signed former Texans defensive finish Darrell Taylor is one other potential choice if exterior linebacker Harold Landry, who’s questionable with a knee damage, can’t play.
The Patriots might elect to maintain the 53rd spot on their roster open in case large receiver Mack Hollins (stomach) or defensive deal with Joshua Farmer (hamstring) are in a position to be activated within the occasion that they advance to the AFC Championship Sport subsequent week.
Vrabel was non-committal final month when requested if Hollins’ damage was season-ending. Hollins was a beginning large receiver earlier than his Week 16 damage.
“We gained’t be capable of see him for one more three weeks. So, at that time limit, then we’d decide, and I hope that’s one which we might make,” Vrabel stated. “However proper now, I don’t assume I can predict something.”
Austin started the season as a starter whereas Christian Gonzalez was out with a hamstring damage. He was handed on the depth chart by Charles Woods. The Patriots additionally signed rookie Kobee Minor from the observe squad to the 53-man roster. With Gonzalez good to go and out of concussion protocol, cornerback depth isn’t at the moment a serious want.
