The New England Patriots’ final Week 3 injury report left the edge rush thin and the secondary in flux heading into Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium, while cornerback Carlton Davis III cleared a neck issue and is expected to play.
On Friday the club ruled out outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder) and placed rookie OLB Quintayvious Hutchins (knee) on injured reserve. Safety Craig Woodson (shoulder) and tight end Eli Raridon (thigh) are questionable. Davis, who missed last week’s win over Pittsburgh, practiced fully and carries no game designation.
Patriots injury report: who is out vs. Jacksonville
Jones, a free-agent addition who led New England with six quarterback pressures in Week 1, hurt his shoulder trying to recover a fumble against the Steelers and did not return. Coach Mike Vrabel has suggested the injury may not be long-term, but Jones missed all three practices this week and is officially out.
Hutchins’s IR move sidelines him at least four games and removes a special-teams and rotational edge piece who logged 27 snaps last week, per team reporting. Depth behind them tilts toward second-year Elijah Ponder, rookie Gabe Jacas, and newly signed Jose Ramirez, who joined the 53-man roster as a speed-rush and coverage option.
Carlton Davis III returns as Woodson remains questionable
Davis’s return stabilizes the corner group after his neck kept him out against Pittsburgh. The larger worry is safety. Dell Pettus is already on IR with an ankle injury, and Woodson only returned to limited work Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday. If Woodson cannot go, New England may lean on Jaylen Reed and a possible practice-squad elevation of veteran Mike Brown.
That matters schematically: the Patriots played nickel on 103 of 115 defensive snaps (89.6%) through two weeks. Jacksonville ranks high in 12-personnel usage and runs effectively with multiple tight ends, so missing a second safety could force more base fronts or a makeshift three-safety look.
Greg Van Roten starts at right guard; Raridon in doubt
With Mike Onwenu already on injured reserve after a significant ankle injury, Vrabel confirmed Greg Van Roten will start at right guard. The 12-year veteran finished last week in Onwenu’s place and has recent starts with the Raiders and Giants, plus familiarity with Josh McDaniels’s system and tackle Morgan Moses.
Raridon did not practice Thursday or Friday after a thigh injury against Pittsburgh. If he sits, Cameron Latu and Tanner Arkin are the next blocking options alongside Hunter Henry. Latu already expanded his role when Raridon left the Steelers game.
What to watch before kickoff
Saturday elevations and any downgrade of Woodson or Raridon to out will define the final 53 for Jacksonville. Xavier Holmes is another practice-squad edge candidate. Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS. For a 1-1 Patriots team still sorting post-Steelers attrition, Sunday’s Patriots injury report storyline is less about one star absence than about whether a patched edge and secondary can hold up on the road.
