FOXBORO, Mass. — Tight end Aaron Hernandez and defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth will play Sunday against the Jets after missing the last two games due to injury.
Hernandez (knee) and Haynesworth (back) were not on the field during pregame warmups, which likely means they were not game-time decisions, and that's a positive sign for their overall health.
Cornerback Ras-I Dowling (hip) was a game-time decision and will also play after missing two games. He ran through a set of drills with strength and conditioning coach Harold Nash about 20 minutes before the Patriots released their inactive list.
Quarterback Ryan Mallett (not on injury report), tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back), defensive lineman Mike Wright (concussion), safety Josh Barrett (hamstring, thumb), running back Danny Woodhead (ankle), wide receiver Julian Edelman (ankle) and linebacker Jerod Mayo (knee) will not play against the Jets.
Wright is missing his fourth consecutive game. Vollmer is out for the third consecutive game and his fourth overall. Mallett is inactive for the second straight game and his fourth overall. Barrett, Woodhead, Edelman and Mayo are all missing their first game of the season.
Barrett was the only surprising name on the inactive list. The Patriots promoted safety Ross Ventrone to the active roster Saturday, so they appeared to be ready to play without Barrett, who earned starting-caliber reps during the first four regular-season games.
Sergio Brown will likely start alongside Patrick Chung in Barrett's absence, and James Ihedigbo should see an increased level of reps against his former team.
Cornerback Leigh Bodden will also return to the lineup after missing the Patriots' victory in Oakland.
Without Edelman, the Patriots will likely use Taylor Price as the kickoff returner and Wes Welker as the punt returner.
Without Vollmer, Nate Solder will start at right tackle, and Tom Welch will be the backup.
Without Mayo, Dane Fletcher and Gary Guyton will receive extra reps alongside Brandon Spikes.
Without Woodhead, the Patriots might turn to rookie Shane Vereen for his most extended work of the season, but it will likely mean BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Stevan Ridley get a large bulk of the offensive snaps.
Wright practiced on a limited basis twice last week, but it was his first action since suffering a concussion in Week 1, so he clearly wasn't ready to return to the lineup just yet.
