The Patriots activated Williams (ankle) from injured reserve Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Williams was able to log a full practice Friday and holds no injury designation ahead of Sunday's divisional tilt. The defensive end is all set to suit up for his first game since Week 11. Due to the 26-year-old's return, Cory Durden will likely see a reduction in defensive snaps for the remainder of the season.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Milton Williams: Seems ready to return Week 18
Rotowire
Williams (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against Miami.
Williams remains on IR -- where he's been since mid-November -- but he was able to log a full practice Friday. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said the likelihood of Williams being activated in time to play Week 18 "looks good" when asked Friday, per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Williams' return would be a nice boost for New England's defensive line ahead of the playoffs, as he posted 27 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, and a defensed pass over 11 contests prior to getting hurt.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Harold Landry: Sidelined against Dolphins
Rotowire
Landry (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
The 29-year-old didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday after missing the Week 17 win over the Jets due to a knee injury, so it's no surprise he won't suit up Sunday. Landry has been a massive part of New England's pass rush in his first season as a Patriot, recording 48 total tackles, including 8.5 sacks, and one forced fumble over 15 appearances. Expect Anfernee Jennings to start opposite K'Lavon Chaisson in the Patriots' linebacker corps while Landry is out Week 18.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Robert Spillane: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Spillane (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Spillane sustained an ankle injury in the Week 14 win over the Giants and is now in line to miss his fourth consecutive contest. The veteran linebacker is a crucial part of the Patriots' defense, tallying 97 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, five passes defensed, with two interceptions, and one forced fumble over 13 appearances this season. While he's sidelined Sunday, expect Jack Gibbens to have an expanded role in New England's linebacker corps.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Khyiris Tonga: Out for Sunday
Rotowire
Tonga (foot) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
The 29-year-old is now in line to miss his second game in a row due to a foot injury sustained in the Week 16 win over the Ravens. Across 14 appearances this season, Tonga has tallied 24 total tackles and two passes defensed while serving as one of the Patriots' top nose tackles. Expect Eric Gregory to have an expanded role on New England's defensive line while Tonga is out Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Khyiris Tonga: Still sidelined by foot injury
Rotowire
Tonga (foot) did not practice Wednesday.
Tonga was unable to play against the Jets in Week 17 due to a foot injury he picked up during the Patriots' Week 16 win over the Ravens. The fifth-year nose tackle would have to practice in at least a limited capacity over the next two days to have a realistic chance to play against the Dolphins on Sunday. Undrafted rookie Eric Gregory would continue to work in an expanded role on the Patriots' defensive line if Tonga were to be ruled out.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Alex Austin: Slated to return to practice
Rotowire
Austin (wrist) is returning to practice Wednesday, per head coach Mike Vrabel, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Austin landed on injured reserve Nov. 25 due to a wrist injury. His return to practice Wednesday means he's eligible to be activated at any time, though it remains to be seen if New England will make that move ahead of Sunday's Week 18 game against the Dolphins. Prior to getting hurt, Austin had played in the Patriots' first 12 contests, logging 144 snaps on defense and 120 on special teams.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Marcus Jones: Logs two solo stops vs. NYJ
Rotowire
Jones recorded two solo tackles during the Patriots' 42-10 win over the Jets on Sunday.
Jones has logged two tackles or less five times this season, four of which have come over his last six games. He's also seen his snap count on defense decrease over the Patriots' last two games, though his lack of playing time Sunday likely had more to do with New England holding a commanding lead by halftime. Jones has accumulated 63 tackles (45 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 11 pass defenses (three interceptions, including a pick-six) and one fumble recovery through 16 regular-season games.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Charles Woods: Green light to play Week 17
Rotowire
Woods (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Jets.
Woods tweaked his ankle during the Patriots' Week 16 win over the Ravens, but he has been cleared to play Sunday after logging three straight limited practices during Week 17 prep. He has accrued nine tackles (seven solo) and one pass defense through 13 regular-season games while operating mostly on special teams.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Jeremiah Pharms: Signs with active roster
Rotowire
The Patriots signed Pharms to the active roster Saturday, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.
Pharms has played in two games this season, logging one solo tackle and one tackle assist on 28 defensive snaps. The defensive end is set to receive rotational snaps on the Patriots' defensive line behind starters Christian Barmore and Cory Durden in Sunday's divisional game against the Jets.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Carlton Davis: Set to play Week 17
Rotowire
Davis (illness) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against the Jets.
Davis battled an illness early in the week and was labeled as a non-participant in practice Tuesday and Wednesday. However, he felt well enough to log a full session Friday and is good to go for Sunday. Davis hasn't missed a game this season and should take on his usual starting cornerback role against New York.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Khyiris Tonga: Sidelined for Week 17
Rotowire
Tonga (foot) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jets, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
The BYU product sustained a foot injury in the Week 16 win over the Ravens and logged consecutive DNPs to open the Patriots' week of practice, so it's no surprise that he won't play Sunday. Tonga has appeared in 14 games this season, recording 24 total tackles and two passes defensed. Expect Eric Gregory to operate as New England's top nose tackle while Tonga is out Week 17.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Robert Spillane: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Spillane (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jets, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
The 30-year-old didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday and is now in line to miss his second consecutive game due to a lingering ankle injury. Spillane is a crucial part of New England's defense, recording 97 total tackles, five passes defensed, including two interceptions, and one forced fumble over 13 appearances this season. While he's sidelined Sunday, expect Jack Gibbens to operate as one of the Patriots' top inside linebackers.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Harold Landry: Out for Sunday
Rotowire
Landry (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jets, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
The 29-year-old from Boston College opened the Patriots' week of practice with consecutive DNPs and is now in line to miss his first game of the season Sunday. In 15 appearances, Landry has logged 48 total tackles, including 8.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. While he's sidelined in Week 17, expect Elijah Ponder and Anfernee Jennings (ankle, questionable) to see more snaps with the Patriots' first-team defense.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Robert Spillane: Doesn't practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Spillane (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.
Spillane was inactive for the Patriots' Week 16 win over the Ravens and did not play against the Bills in Week 15 due to a lingering ankle injury. He'll have two more opportunities to return to practice and give himself a chance to play in Sunday's AFC East clash against the Jets. Jack Gibbens will continue to start at inside linebacker for as long as Spillane is sidelined.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Harold Landry: DNP to open Week 17 prep
Rotowire
Landry (knee) did not practice Wednesday.
Landry will have his practice reps limited while working through a knee injury he sustained in late November. The injury hasn't prevented him from playing, and he'll likely be available to play against the Jets on Sunday. The 2018 second-rounder has totalled 48 tackles (27 solo), including 8.5 sacks, and one forced fumble through 15 regular-season games in his first year in New England.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Carlton Davis: Under the weather
Rotowire
Davis (illness) did not practice Wednesday.
Davis was able to play through a hip issue against the Ravens in Week 16, when he finished with eight tackles (six solo) while playing 98 percent of the Patriots' defensive snaps. He is now battling through an illness, but he would avoid an injury designation for Sunday's AFC East tilt against the Jets if he were to log a full practice by Friday.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Jack Gibbens: Team-high 10 stops vs. Baltimore
Rotowire
Gibbens registered 10 tackles (three solo), including one tackle for a loss, and a quarterback hit during the Patriots' 28-24 win over the Ravens on Sunday.
Gibbens logged double-digit tackles for the third time this season and played every single defensive snap for a second consecutive game. He has started in each of the Patriots' last two games due to the absence of Robert Spillane (ankle), and the former could start against the Jets on Sunday if the latter is not cleared to play. Gibbens is up to 71 tackles (38 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two pass defenses across 15 regular-season games in his first year in New England.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Joshua Farmer: Placed on IR
Rotowire
The Patriots placed Farmer (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Farmer suffered the injury in Sunday night's win over the Ravens and will now miss the final two games of the regular season and at least the first two games of the playoffs. The fourth-round rookie defensive tackle has appeared in 13 games this season, making three starts, and has recorded 15 tackles (seven solo), one pass breakup and one fumble recovery.
... See More... See Less
Patriots' Khyiris Tonga: Week-to-week with foot issue
Rotowire
Tonga (foot) is considered to have a one- or two-week injury and should be back for the playoffs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Tonga left Sunday night's game against the Ravens in the first half and was unable to return. The starting nose tackle for the Patriots is a key part of their defense, so his availability for an inevitable playoff push is a big win for the team. Since the 29-year-old may miss the rest of the regular season, Eric Gregory will likely be called upon to face the Jets in Week 17 and maybe the Dolphins in Week 18.
