FOXBOROUGH – For the past couple of weeks, veteran defensive lineman Danny Shelton has been a somewhat surprising healthy scratch (not listed on the injury report) from the Patriots' game-day roster. Today, he's back in the lineup, but another veteran d-lineman will take Shelton's place on the inactive list.
Defensive end Adrian Clayborn will be a spectator for the penultimate regular season contest of 2018. Clayborn is healthy enough to go, as he was not listed on the injury report, but his play has been less than effective for most of the season and particularly in recent weeks (one tackle in the last five games). So, his absence today is only a mild surprise.
Meanwhile, a third-year defensive lineman just called up from New England's practice squad, Ufomba Kamalu, will be on the 46-man active roster for the Bills game. It'll be interesting to see how much action, if any, Kamalu gets this afternoon.
When the Patriots distributed their final injury report on Friday, only one player on New England's roster was listed. Special teamer Brandon King has been dealing with a knee injury that limited his practice activity all week. He's not going to play today as a result. That gives tight end Jacob Hollister, a healthy scratch last week, a chance to rejoin the game-day roster.
The remainder of New England's inactive list looks familiar from recent weeks: defensive ends Keionta Davis and Derek Rivers, offensive lineman James Ferentz, defensive back Obi Melifonwu, and rookie cornerback Duke Dawson. All are healthy scratches.
From the Buffalo sideline, starting cornerback Ryan Lewis – who spent time with the Patriots practice squad last season and training camp this year – is a noteworthy player who won't take part today.
Lewis has been suffering from the effects of a concussion recently and was ruled out by the Bills on Friday. Other high-profile Bills who won't play today: running back Chris Ivory (shoulder) and tight end Charles Clay (healthy scratch).
