FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots previously ruled out only one player for tonight's game against the Colts, leaving six more to declare inactive.
With a largely healthy 53-man roster, there was more question than usual as to who the team would deactivate.
As it turns out, in addition to wide receiver Aaron Dobson, the Patriots deactivated the following players: defensive end Jake Bequette, guard Chris Barker, tight end D.J. Williams, defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga, linebacker Steve Beauharnais and cornerback Justin Green.
The Colts declared the following players as inactive: wide receiver Deion Branch, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, wide receiver Josh Lenz, cornerback Sheldon Price, linebacker Daniel Adongo, center Khaled Holmes, and guard Joe Reitz.
QUICK-HIT THOUGHTS: With Dobson as the only injury-related absence, the Patriots deactivated depth-level players beyond that. None of the players who is inactive has had a major role this season, as Sopoaga has not been a factor of late. Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard (knee/shoulder) and wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins (hip) were both questionable, though each will play tonight. It will be interesting to see if Dennard is inserted as a starter, or if the Patriots stick with rookie Logan Ryan.
On the Colts' front, the biggest news is that Deion Branch is inactive after being signed this week. The former Patriot will not take the field against his old team, though this shouldn't come as a major surprise given how recently he was signed.
