Patriots-Chargers Inactives: Rookie To Make Long-Awaited Return

FOXBORO, Mass. — Stop us if you’ve heard this before: The Patriots almost certainly will start a different offensive lineman in front of Drake Maye.

Now it’s just a matter of whether New England will make one or two changes against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.

Cole Strange, who was active but did not play an offensive snap in Week 16, is in line for his first career start at center. Ben Brown, who played every snap at center since Week 6, was ruled out ahead of gameday. Strange, who spent one season recovering from a torn patellar tendon, hasn’t played an offensive snap in more than a year.

Patriots rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace is active against the Chargers, as well. The 2024 third-round pick has not played since Week 4, after he landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury on Oct. 4.

Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers is inactive after being deemed questionable with a hamstring injury. It marks a second consecutive missed game for Peppers.

New England’s defense had multiple questionable designations entering Saturday but safety Kyle Dugger (ankle/quad), linebacker Curtis Jacobs (concussion), Jahlani Tavai (groin), linebacker Titus Leo (ankle), linebacker Anfernee Jennings (knee) and linebacker Sione Takitaki (knee) all are active.

Here are the inactives for the Patriots:
S Jabrill Peppers
QB Joe Milton III
RB Terrell Jennings
G Sidy Sow
G Tyrese Robinson
OT Ben Brown

And the inactives for the Chargers:
QB Easton Stick
RB Gus Edwards
ILB Denzel Perryman
G Jordan McFadden
T Trey Pipkins
TE Hayden Hurst
DE Justin Eboigbe

Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET.