The New England Patriots will be without starting cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III for Sunday's home game against the Las Vegas Raiders, coach Mike Vrabel said. Vrabel also ruled out backup cornerbacks Karon Prunty and Channing Canada, both with hamstring injuries, along with fullback Reggie Gilliam and veteran receiver Mack Hollins.
Gonzalez will miss his second straight game after sustaining a shoulder injury in a Week 3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played through the injury that day and said he was "good" afterward, but he has not practiced since. Davis will miss his second game of the season after being sidelined for a Week 2 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a neck injury.
The Raiders (3-1) are thin at receiver but rely on ultra-productive tight end Brock Bowers in a receiver-type role. The Patriots (2-2) may need to adjust their game plan to account for him. Slot corner Marcus Jones is expected to play more on the outside, as he did last week in place of Gonzalez. Third-year player Charles Woods has also seen his role increase, although he was limited in practice this week with a shoulder injury. Seven-year veteran Kindle Vildor, elevated from the practice squad last week, is likely to be part of the game plan again. Defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr called Vildor the "ultimate pro."
Starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson has been limited in practice but still has a chance to play Sunday. He said he is "ready to go." Vrabel added that roster moves are expected by Saturday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, with special teams ace Brenden Schooler expected to be activated from the reserve/non-football injury list to fill one spot.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing