The Patriots reportedly won't have to wait for Antonio Gibson to make his regular-season New England debut.
Gibson was added to the injury report Thursday when he was limited in practice due to a hip injury. But according to ESPN's Mike Reiss, the veteran running back "plans to play" Sunday when the Patriots open their 2024 slate in Cincinnati against the Bengals.
The 26-year-old was one of the first external free agents New England signed when the market opened back in March. The Patriots inked Gibson to a three-year, $11.25 million deal with roughly half of the money guaranteed. The 2020 third-round pick is expected to play an important role in New England this season, serving as the understudy to feature back Rhamondre Stevenson.
While the Patriots received a lift with Gibson's expected availability, they also encountered some misfortune on the injury front. Key offensive lineman Sidy Sow will be unavailable for the Week 1 showdown at Paycor Stadium due to an ankle injury. Other notable inactives for Sunday's clash could include Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, who is dealing with a hamstring issue.
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New England and Cincinnati are scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET. The Bengals are a 7.5-point favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Featured image via Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images
