The Patriots are just under an hour until their first Thursday night football matchup of the season. They’re facing off with the Pittsburgh Steelers with a tall task ahead of them as they find themselves short-handed at several positions.
Good luck, Bailey Zappe. Earlier in the week, the Patriots ruled out rookie wide receivers Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) and Demario Douglas (concussion), along with ruling out RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and Shaun Wade (illness). Before tonight’s game, they’ve announced three more inactive players.
RB JaMycal Hasty, OT Vederian Lowe, and DeVante Parker (knee) will all be out against the Steelers. On the flip side, the other three questionable players, OT Trent Brown (ankle), WR JuJU Smith-Schuster (ankle), and Christian Barmore (shoulder), will all play and have no injury destination.
Well. That’s a lot of injuries, and for a 2-10 team that’s looking at a top-five pick, it won’t be a total surprise if some players don’t return for the rest of the season.
Starting on the offensive side of the ball, the Patriots are projected to start Bailey Zappe for the second consecutive week. However, the Patriots chose to dress all three quarterbacks on the roster, with Mac Jones and Malik Cunningham active. The Patriots decided to elevate Cunningham for the second straight week. The undrafted rookie didn’t see the field on Sunday, but that could change on Thursday against the Steelers.
The Patriots are rolling with four healthy receivers in Pittsburgh. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Reagor, and Malik Cunningham are the only wideouts available for the Patriots on Thursday night football. Regardless, the Patriots will have three tight ends boosting the offense: Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, and Pharoh Brown.
Despite ruling Rhamondre Stevenson out with an ankle injury, the Patriots still list JaMaycl Hasty as inactive. That’s an indictment that they feel strong with their current running backs. Ezekiel Elliott will take over as RB1 and have Kevin Harris and Ty Montgomery behind him.
“I think the more I’m in there, the better I’ll be,” Elliott told the media this week.
Flipping to the other side of the ball, the Patriots will have most of their starting defense available against the Steelers. Christain Barmore, who was listed with a shoulder injury, will play. The Steelers ruled out starting Kenny Pickett, so the Patriots will be going against Mitch Tribusky’s led offense.
For the Steelers, they have the following inactive:
- QB Kenny Pickett
- OT Dylan Cook
- OLB Markus Golden
- DE DeMarvin Leal
- RB Anthony McFarland
- CB James Pierre
The Patriots and Steelers kickoff at 8:15 p.m.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
