Patriots Elevate DT Leonard Taylor III and WR Jeremiah Webb for Sunday’s Wild Card Matchup vs. the Chargers
The Patriots are readying for a Wild Card playoff matchup against the Chargers and have elevated two players from the practice squad for Sunday night’s game at Gillette Stadium.
On Saturday, New England elevated DT Leonard Taylor III and WR Jeremiah Webb from the practice squad for Sunday night’s game. Taylor appeared in three regular-season games for the Patriots, serving as depth along the interior defensive line, while Webb has yet to appear in an NFL game as an undrafted rookie who signed with the team in May. During the postseason, practice squad elevations reset, giving the Patriots and Taylor flexibility.
Webb was elevated from the practice squad for the first time after WR Kayshon Boutte popped up on the injury report with a hamstring injury. New England is already down versatile WR Mack Hollins, who is on injured reserve due to an abdomen injury, giving the Patriots only five wideouts on the active roster. The Patriots typically have five wide receivers active, so Webb’s elevation signals that Boutte’s status could be in doubt. It’s worth noting that players have unlimited practice-squad elevations in the playoffs, so there isn’t much downside to elevating Webb as insurance in case Boutte can’t play. The Patriots available wide receivers are Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, Boutte, and Webb.
As for Webb’s skillset, the practice-squad receiver is more of a smooth route-runner than a big-bodied outside receiver at 5-11, 198 pounds. Webb had a solid preseason with six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown, showing off some downfield separation ability. Webb also popped as a return man, with a 59-yard kickoff return during the Patriots second preseason game. The Patriots might want some insurance in case Boutte can’t go, while Webb’s play speed might make him a dynamic option on kickoff returns. In recent weeks, Chism and RB D’Ernest Johnson have been the primary kickoff returners.
Moving over to the defense, the Patriots lone player ruled out for Sunday night is NT Khyiris Tonga (foot), so Taylor III gets the nod from the practice squad to bolster the defensive line depth. The first-year pro has flashed an ability to get off blocks with four total pressures and three run stuffs in three regular-season games. In Week 18, the Pats D-Line rotation featured defensive tackles Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Cory Durden, Eric Gregory, and Taylor, so the expectation is that rotation will continue on Sunday night.
After elevating Webb from the practice squad, Boutte’s status will be worth monitoring during pre-game warmups. Hopefully, the Pats efficient deep threat will be able to play. If not, one would expect that rookie Kyle Williams will play a prominent role as a field-stretcher on the outside, while Diggs, Douglas, and Chism move around the formation. With two players elevated from the practice squad, the Patriots will need to declare seven players inactive 90 minutes before kickoff, with Tonga being one of those seven inactives.
The Patriots host the Chargers at Gillette Stadium with kickoff at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday night.
