Pats look fairly healthy heading into Monday night
Eight players listed as questionable
If the Patriots’ final injury report is any indication, with eight players listed officially as questionable, the team should be fully healthy for Monday night.
For two straight weeks, every questionable Patriot has been active on game day. All eight listed this week finished last Sunday’s win over Tennessee. Center David Andrews (shoulder), Brandon Bolden (knee) and returner Gunner Olszewski (ankle) were the new additions, though they practiced every day this week.
Rookie linebacker Ronnie Perkins missed Saturday’s walkthrough with a new illness. Perkins has been a healthy scratch for every regular-season game to date.
Safety Kyle Dugger sat out his fourth straight practice since landing on COVID-19 reserve, a strong indication he will miss Monday’s game. If Dugger is vaccinated an asymptomatic, he must produce two negative tests at least 24 hours apart in order to return. If he is vaccinated and shows symptoms, he must be asymptomatic for 48 hours and produce negative tests in consecutive days before being activated.
If he is unvaccinated, Dugger has already been sidelined for Monday’s game because he must quarantine for 10 days before potentially returning.
For Buffalo, offensive guard Cody Ford, fullback Reggie Gilliam and defensive end Efe Obada were the only players listed on the team’s injury report. The Bills previously rested wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley in consecutive days for veteran rest, though all are expected to play Monday.
Jackson excited by Diggs matchup
No Patriot knows how badly the Bills beat them last year than J.C. Jackson.
The Pats’ new No. 1 corner got roasted by Diggs, Buffalo’s leading receiver, in a 38-9 Bills romp last December in Foxboro. It was the Patriots’ worst home loss ever under Bill Belichick. Jackson allowed multiple touchdowns to Diggs, who finished with nine catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
Naturally, Jackson is looking to get the better of their matchup on Monday.
“Everybody knows Diggs, man. Diggs is one of the best receivers in the game, one of the tougher matchups I’ve been against since I’ve been in the league,” Jackson said Friday. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready to compete. We’ll see Monday night.”
Diggs leads the Bills with 67 catches, 847 yards and seven touchdowns. Meanwhile Jackson leads the AFC in interceptions with seven.
“I would say the biggest thing, the biggest strength I have is ball skills. Which helps me catch a lot of picks,” Jackson said. “Then my hands, these hands are amazing. So that’s my biggest thing. I have great ball skills . ... You can’t make no mistakes around me, man. You can’t make no mistakes.”
Jackson said he believe ‘s proven something this season, an important year not only for the Patriots as they climb back into content, but him individually. Jackson is set to free agency in March.
“I feel like I’ve brought my performance up a notch this year because of the time I’ve put in studying, watching extra film, doing work before practice. All that is paying off for me,” Jackson said. “And you see the results on Sundays — or Mondays.”
Harris: White is still with us
The Patriots lost James White to a season-ending injury in Week 3.
While he hasn’t been spotted on a field since, White’s teammates insist his presence is still felt inside the facility.
“Although he’s not here physically we know he’s with us every single day, we talk to him almost every day, especially every game day as running backs,” Pats running back Damien Harris said Saturday. “James is still that same leader, that same guy, that same mentor to all of us.”
In White’s place, the Patriots have elevated Bolden from his role as a core special teamer to their new third-down back. Bolden has already set career highs as a pass catcher and could set new personal bests as a rusher, having already logged 26 catches for 141 yards. On early downs, the Pats have split carries between Harris and fourthround rookie Rhamondre Stevenson.
Both players have seen a slight uptick in their passblocking duties in recent weeks, and Harris credits the example White set for helping the running backs along.
“We know what he would do if he was out there. He would play with a lot of toughness,” Harris said. “He’s a great, smart football player. So we just want to go out there and keep doing what we’re doing, play for him and take all the coaching we can get from him.”