FOXBORO, Mass. — Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco will miss his first game as a member of the Patriots during Sunday's AFC Championship against the Ravens.
Ochocinco is a healthy scratch and is one of the team's seven inactive players. Rookie running back Stevan Ridley is also a healthy scratch after fumbling the ball in two consecutive games.
Tackle Sebastian Vollmer (foot, back), linebacker Gary Guyton, running back Shane Vereen, offensive lineman Donald Thomas and quarterback Ryan Mallett are also inactive. Guyton, Vereen, Thomas and Mallett were not on the injury report, giving the Patriots six healthy scratches for the second straight week.
Defensive lineman Ron Brace and defensive back Nate Jones are active after sitting out last week's victory against the Broncos. Interestingly, that's a substitution of two offensive players (Ochocinco, Ridley) for two defensive players (Brace, Jones).
Brace could be relied upon to help stifle the Ravens' rushing attack, which is led by Ray Rice. With Jones in the lineup, it could be an indication the Patriots will give more snaps to Julian Edelman as a wide receiver in Ochocinco's place, which happened last week.
Vollmer is out for the seventh straight game and the 12th time overall. Mallett is inactive for the 17th time, including 15 straight. Vereen won't play for the 11th time, including the last seven weeks. Thomas is inactive for the fifth time, including the last two weeks. Guyton is out for the third time, including the last two weeks.
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