FOXBORO — The Patriots are making five rookies inactive for their Week 15 matchup with the Bills.
Here’s the full list of inactives:
QB Tommy DeVito (emergency third QB)
OLB Bradyn Swinson
OT Marcus Bryant
DT Eric Gregory
TE CJ Dippre
WR Efton Chism
Swinson, Bryant, Gregory, Dippre and Chism are all rookies.
Bills cornerback Christian Benford, who’s been Buffalo’s best defender this season, has been ruled out with a toe injury.
Notes from inactives:
• DeVito can only enter Sunday’s game if Drake Maye and backup Joshua Dobbs both exit with injuries. He would need to leave if Maye or Dobbs were cleared.
• Anfernee Jennings, rookie Elijah Ponder and Caleb Murphy will back up starting outside linebackers K’Lavon Chaisson and Harold Landry.
• Bryant is a healthy scratch for the second straight week. Veteran Thayer Munford will back up starters Vederian Lowe and Morgan Moses. Caedan Wallace can also play guard or tackle.
• The Patriots elevated Leonard Taylor III from the practice squad to serve as depth with Cory Durden and Joshua Farmer behind Christian Barmore and Khyiris Tonga.
• Dippre has yet to make his NFL debut. The Patriots have Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and fullback Jack Westover available to play tight end. Munford also can serve as a jumbo tight end.
• Chism is back inactive. The Patriots signed running back D’Ernest Johnson off the practice squad and placed running back Terrell Jennings on injured reserve. Johnson and rookie Kyle Williams can fill in at kick returner with Chism a healthy scratch.
