FOXBOROUGH – The New England Patriots face another challenge in their defensive lineup as safety Kyle Dugger has been declared inactive for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns due to a knee injury. Dugger, who had stepped in for Jaylinn Hawkins over the past two weeks, popped up on the injury report Thursday and was limited in practice leading up to the game.
In Dugger’s absence, the Patriots are expected to start Hawkins, who returns to play after missing two games with a hamstring injury. Hawkins had a solid start to the season, recording 23 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and an interception in the first five games. Rookie Craig Woodson will likely fill in as well, with additional safety depth provided by Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler.
To further bolster their secondary, the Patriots have elevated veteran safety Richie Grant from the practice squad. Grant brings valuable experience, having started 33 games over the past three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, where he earned a career-high 123 tackles last season.
Patriots safeties coach Scott Booker expressed confidence in the team’s depth at the safety position, emphasizing the importance of preparation amidst injuries. “In the National Football League, the injury rate is 100%. Guys are going to get injured, so we make sure that our players are ready to step in whenever their number is called,” Booker stated.
In addition to the injury concerns in the secondary, the Patriots have made some surprising roster decisions. Defensive end Keion White finds himself as a healthy scratch for the second time this season. Despite being a second-round pick in 2023, White has struggled to find a consistent role, tallying just six tackles without registering a sack this year. Consequently, Anfernee Jennings and Elijah Ponder will take on the edge rushing responsibilities in White’s absence.
Special teams will also see changes, as Efton Chism III is inactive after serving as the primary kickoff returner for the past two games. The Patriots will need to identify a new returner to fill that role against the Browns.
The inactive list for the Patriots also includes Caedan Wallace, Caleb Murphy, Eric Gregory, and quarterback Tommy DeVito. As the team prepares for the game, they will look to utilize their remaining depth and adaptability to keep their momentum going despite these setbacks.