Game statuses for Christmas Eve’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Empower Field.
The New England Patriots have ruled out three starters for Christmas Eve against the Denver Broncos.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster as well as safety Jabrill Peppers each stayed sidelined during Friday’s practice in Foxborough.
Nine members of the active roster move forward with questionable game statuses, however, including tight end and captain Hunter Henry. The offensive leader with 42 receptions and six receiving touchdowns returned as a limited participant after missing back-to-back sessions due to a knee issue.
Here’s the final injury report ahead of Sunday’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Empower Field.
OUT
Patriots
- RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle)
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle)
- S Jabrill Peppers (hamstring)
Broncos
- TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring, foot)
- OT Alex Palczewski (knee)
- LB Nik Bonitto (knee)
Christmas Eve at Mile High will mark the third consecutive game without Stevenson. The starting running back has not practiced since sustaining a high ankle sprain on Dec. 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers. As for Smith-Schuster, the March arrival in the wide receiver room went from a limited participant to a non-participant on Friday due to an ankle injury that sent him to the inactives against the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend. And Peppers, who has appeared in every game since landing in Foxborough as a free agent in 2022, will be sidelined for his first. The veteran safety exited with a hamstring injury 59 defensive snaps into what became a 27-17 loss to the reigning Super Bowl champions. He has totaled 76 tackles, two interceptions, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery this campaign.
QUESTIONABLE
Patriots
- TE Hunter Henry (knee)
- OT Trent Brown (ankle, hand)
- OT Conor McDermott (concussion)
- DT Christian Barmore (shoulder)
- LB Anfernee Jennings (illness)
- LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee)
- LB Jahlani Tavai (ankle)
- CB Jonathan Jones (knee)
- ST Matthew Slater (hamstring)
Broncos
- No players listed
Henry had been a non-participant on Wednesday and Thursday before making his way back in a partial capacity. He caught his third touchdown in a span of two weeks against Kansas City before departing with a knee injury. Elsewhere, the lone member of New England’s nine questionable who did not practice on Friday was McDermott. The recent starter at left tackle entered the NFL’s concussion protocol last weekend. The team’s incumbent blindside blocker, Brown, was inactive while managing ankle and hand injuries in addition to an illness. Elsewhere, the Patriots removed core special-teamer Cody Davis from the final injury report following an illness of his own. Backup bookend Tyrone Wheatley Jr. also practiced in full as his 21-day window to return from injured reserve remains open.