FOXBORO, Mass. — Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes, who has a calf issue, has been cleared to play Sunday against the Bills, and third-year linebacker Shawn Crable will finally make his NFL debut.
New England released its inactive list for Sunday's game, and it includes offensive lineman Nick Kaczur (back), cornerback Terrence Wheatley (foot), wide receiver Taylor Price (ankle), defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick, tackle Steve Maneri, offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka, linebacker Dane Fletcher and defensive tackle Kyle Love.
Running back Danny Woodhead will also make his Patriots debut after getting signed eight days ago.
Kaczur, Wheatley, Price, Deaderick, Maneri, Ojinnaka and Fletcher have missed all three games this season, and this is the first time Love has been out.
The Patriots selected Crable in the third round of the 2008 draft, and he's been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He was inactive during the first eight games of 2008 before being placed on injured reserve, and he also missed all of 2009 due to injury.
Crable was cut in July because he couldn’t pass his physical prior to training camp, which marked the low point in his career. But the Patriots signed him to their practice squad Sept. 6 and promoted to the active roster Saturday to fill Kevin Faulk's spot.
Spikes was added to the injury report Saturday and listed as probable for the game. He worked out on the field Sunday at 10 a.m. with assistant strength and conditioning coach Harold Nash and linebackers coach Matt Patricia.
Spikes' clearance must have been a very last-minute thing because Fletcher was jogging around the field just prior to the announcement of the inactive list. Typically, players are never spotted on the field if they aren’t going to play, so Fletcher's workout was likely a direct correlation to Spikes' status.
