Patriots Elevate Receiver, Linebacker From Practice Squad For Matchup Against Jets

The New England Patriots are depleted with injuries, and NFL analysts are worried about the team’s performance in the regular season. The team had pretty long injury reports following each practice. How will Bill Belichick fix the situation? For now, the Patriots will elevate wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson and linebacker Terez Hall from the practice squad for Monday Night Football.

New England plays against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, and Belichick has made some changes to the active roster. It’s an easy game for the team, but they have to be extra careful about it. Adam Gase is well aware of Cam Newton’s full potential.

The Patriots signed outside linebacker Tashawn Bower to the 53-man roster from the practice unit.

Patriots to use some help from the practice squad

Wilkerson will give the Patriots’ receiving unit a nice boost. N’Keal Harry is out due to his concussion and Julian Edelman is recovering from his knee procedure. New England has just three healthy receivers for the game.

Belichick could definitely use Wilkerson’s athleticism in the game against New York. He measures at 6 feet 1, 214 pounds. Wilkerson has had great numbers at FCS Southeast Missouri State. He caught 71 passes for 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019. The talented player spent training camp with the Tennessee Titans and then joined the Patriots practice unit in September.

Wilkerson will make his NFL debut tonight and will join wideouts Damiere Byrd, Jakobi Meyers, and Gunner Olszewski.

Hall will also have his first career call-up. He has been part of the Patriots family since May 2019. The team signed him as an undrafted rookie and had him on the practice unit throughout his entire rookie campaign.

The Missouri product adds nice depth to the inside linebacker unit. Ja’Whaun Bentley won’t play due to his groin injury. Adrian Phillips, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, and Cassh Maluia  are pretty young, but Belichick trusts their talent.

Uche will start in Bentley’s place. He had his NFL debut in Week 8. Jennings saw 106 defensive snaps, and 53 of these happened in Week 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Bower was great in Weeks 7 and 8.

“Tashawn’s a hardworking kid, and he’s tough,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said last week. “He’s showed a lot of competitiveness and toughness. There’s certainly things for him to work on, like any young player, but he did some positive things.”