The first injury report heading into Week 16 at Mile High’s Empower Field.
The New England Patriots returned to the practice fields without four members of the active roster.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson, tight end Hunter Henry, offensive tackle Conor McDermott and safety Jabrill Peppers stayed sidelined during Wednesday’s preparations for the Denver Broncos.
Elsewhere, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and blindside bookend Trent Brown made their way back after going from questionable to inactive for last weekend’s 27-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Both did so as limited participants.
Here’s the first injury report ahead of Sunday’s 8:15 p.m. ET Christmas Eve kickoff at Empower Field.
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
Patriots
- RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle)
- TE Hunter Henry (knee)
- OT Conor McDermott (concussion)
- S Jabrill Peppers (hamstring)
Broncos
- RB Samaje Perine (not injury related — rest)
- TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring, foot)
- LB Nik Bonitto (knee)
Stevenson has not practiced since sustaining a high ankle sprain in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 3. The lead running back remained absent on Wednesday along with an additional three starters. While McDermott now resides in the NFL’s concussion protocol after being downgraded to out against Kansas City, Henry and Peppers exited with respective knee and hamstring injuries. Neither veteran has missed a game since arriving in Foxborough. The captain at tight end stands with a team-high six touchdowns on the season, while the safety stands with 76 tackles, two interceptions as well as one sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery across 95.2 percent of the defensive snaps. The Patriots placed left guard Cole Strange on injured reserve and cornerback J.C. Jackson on the non-football illness list to begin the week.
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
Patriots
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle)
- OT Trent Brown (ankle, hand)
- DT Christian Barmore (shoulder)
- LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee)
- LB Jahlani Tavai (ankle)
- CB Jonathan Jones (knee)
- ST Matthew Slater (hamstring)
Broncos
- OT Alex Palczewski (knee)
- LB Jonathon Cooper (ankle)
Seven in all were partial participants for New England on Wednesday. Tavai and Jones marked the new additions among them. The starting linebacker, listed with an ankle injury, recorded an interception versus the reining Super Bowl champions while seeing 46 snaps on defense and 23 snaps on special teams. The starting corner, meanwhile, was briefly announced as questionable to return to a shorthanded position because of a knee injury.