The New England Patriots elevated four players from the practice squad and listed offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn as out Friday, ahead of their Saturday night Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Wynn missed practice Wednesday (hip/ankle), returning to practice Thursday in a limited fashion. He was originally listed as questionable, along with 12 others, before being ruled out Friday.
The four practice squad elevations make Jalen Mills’ removal off the Reserve/COVID-19 list unlikely — it likely confirms it, barring a significant number of the 12 others listed as questionable being out. Shaun Wade also remains on the list.
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The four elevations include D’Angelo Ross, Daniel Ekuale, Kristian Wilkerson — all of who have played at least several games this season — as well as DeVante Bausby, who is making his Patriots debut. Combined, the first three, who have been New England’s main set of elevations this season, have played 13 games.
According to the NFL Transaction wire, Ekuale and Ross are COVID-19 replacements while Bausby and Wilkerson are standard elevations, meaning two players — likely Mills and Wade — are being replaced
Bausby has bounced around in his career, as in his fifth NFL season, where he’s spent time with six teams as well as the AAF’s San Antonio Commanders.
Ross was on the practice squad last season, getting elevated for the final week of the season but did not get any snaps. He was cut during camp this year but stuck on the practice squad, tallying three games this season. The 5-foot-9 cornerback got his first start in the Patriots’ final game of the year vs. the Dolphins.
Wilkerson had a strong preseason but ultimately ended up on the practice squad. However, he did break out against the Jaguars — scoring two touchdowns and tallying 42 receiving yards — and has made a name for himself in the three games of limited action this season.
Ekuale has had the most experience this season out of anybody on the practice squad, playing in seven games. He was signed to the practice squad in early September and has racked up a pair of sacks with New England.
New England takes on Buffalo Saturday night, at 8:15 p.m. EST in Buffalo.