The New England Patriots open their 2024 regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday and will start safety Jabrill Peppers on their game-day team. Although he was placed on the injured report as questionable with a hip injury on Saturday, his pregame workout apparently went well enough to clear him.
It remains to be seen if he can play his usual high number of snaps, but the fact that he is willing to take the field at all can be seen as encouraging from the Patriots’ perspective. Additionally, they have fellow safeties Kyle Dugger, Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler on their active team against Cincinnati.
In addition to the experienced safety, let’s take a look at who else will and will not be playing for New England in Week 1.
Inactive Patriots
- WR Javon Baker
- LB Curtis Jacobs
- OT Demontrey Jacobs
- DT Eric Johnson
- QB Joe Milton (emergency QB)
- G Sidy Sow
- OL Zachary Thomas
The Patriots entered Sunday with five players on the injury report. Left guard Sidy Sow was previously ruled out with an ankle injury, while running back Antonio Gibson (hip), offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (abdomen) and outside linebacker Joshua Uche (foot) were listed as questionable in addition to the aforementioned Peppers.
All three have been assigned to Sunday’s game, with Gibson slated to be the No. 2 rotation running back, Lowe a possible but unlikely starter at left tackle ahead of Chukwuma Okorafor, and Uche a key player in New England’s pass rush.
In addition to those players, the Patriots have decided to deactivate draft picks Javon Baker and Joe Milton, as well as all four of their recent waiver wire claims. None of the six players were injured over the weekend, meaning they will be out healthy for the season opener.
Bengals inactive
- WR Tee Higgins
- DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
- EN Cedric Johnson
- TE Tanner McLachlan
- OT Amarius Mims
- WR Kendric Pryor
The biggest name on the Bengals’ inactive list is one that isn’t even listed. Ja’Marr Chase, who was questionable because of an illness, has been cleared to play. The same cannot be said for fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is out with a hamstring injury.
Kickoff between the Patriots and Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. New England enters the game as a 7.5-point underdog, according to the latest odds from FanDuel.
