FOXBOROUGH — The New England Patriots will be without six members of the active roster for Sunday's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium, with starting perimeter corners Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III among those ruled out. The 1 p.m. ET kickoff will also be without fullback Reggie Gilliam, wide receiver Mack Hollins and cornerbacks Karon Prunty and Channing Canada. "We got six guys out. We're going to make some roster moves. We got to have 48 for the game," head coach Mike Vrabel shared during his final press conference of the week.
Gonzalez has missed six consecutive practices dating back to the end of September and will now miss a second game due to a shoulder injury. The extended All-Pro lines up opposite No. 0 Davis, who stayed sidelined throughout preparations due to a neck injury after playing all 59 defensive snaps last Sunday in what became a 29-26 AFC East upset over the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Depth at corner is further thinned as Canada — the undrafted rookie who was downgraded on the eve of kickoff in Orchard Park with a hamstring injury and did not play — and fifth-round pick Prunty, also sidelined with a hamstring issue, have been ruled out.
Veterans on offense are also sidelined in Foxborough. Gilliam, in his inaugural Patriots campaign with 58 downs on offense and 39 on special teams, began the week as a limited participant due to knee and ankle ailments before becoming an absence on Thursday. Hollins sustained a non-contact calf injury after halftime at Orchard Park and did not return despite being announced as questionable; the 33-year-old has been a non-participant since and currently ranks atop an A.J. Brown-less passing game in targets, catches and yards. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who hobbled off with a knee injury on the final drive after totaling 47 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, one touchdown and a two-point conversion, practiced in a limited capacity all week and is "not out as of yet," per Vrabel.
New England currently carries one open spot on the 53-man roster after promoting safety Mike Brown following back-to-back standard elevations. That spot is expected to go to Brenden Schooler, the 2025 special teams captain who had his 21-day practice window opened last month after spending the initial four games on the non-football injury list and has graduated from limited to full participation. "Yeah, I imagine Schooler will be ready to go," Vrabel said.