Patriots-Seahawks Inactives: New England Benefits From Key Absences

FOXBORO, Mass. -- New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo labeled Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III as a player who jumped off the film.

Fortunately for Mayo and the Patriots, they won't have to face Seattle's hard-running back in their Week 2 game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Walker was ruled out with an oblique injury.

Seattle also will be without starting right tackle George Fant, who is one of three offensive tackles inactive. The Patriots will be without at least one starter, as well.

New England on Saturday ruled out left guard Sidy Sow and placed offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor on the exempt/left squad list. Sow worked with the starting offense throughout training camp before he suffered an ankle injury and missed the regular-season opener. Okorafor, who reportedly is weighing whether he wants to keep playing football, started at left tackle in Week 1 before he was benched after 12 snaps.

Rookie wide receiver Javon Baker is on the gameday roster after being a healthy scratch in Week 1. The Patriots flipped their receiver depth chart with Baker jumping Kayshon Boutte.

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Here is the full absence list for the Patriots:
WR Kayshon Boutte
QB Joe Milton III
LB Curtis Jacobs
LF Sidy Sow
OT Demontrey Jacobs

And Seahawks:
RB Kenneth Walker III
OLB Uchenna Nwosu
C Olusegun Oluwatimi
OT Sataoa Laumea
OT Michael Jerrell
OT George Fant
TE Pharaoh Brown

Kyle Dugger (ankle), JaMycal Hasty (knee), Layden Robinson (shoulder) and Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder) were all listed as questionable Friday. All four are on the gameday roster.

Vederian Lowe likely will start at left tackle while Michael Jordan, who was elevated to the active roster, is expected to start his second consecutive game at left guard. Center David Andrews, right guard Layden Robinson and right tackle Mike Onwenu served as New England's other three starters in Week 1 and likely will be back in the starting lineup Sunday. The offensive line depth behind them features rookie Caedan Wallace, Nick Leverett and waiver-wire addition Zach Thomas.