FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- There are no surprises among the Pittsburgh Steelers' healthy scratches Sunday.
Inside linebacker Kion Wilson is inactive for the second game in a row since the Steelers promoted him from the practice squad.
Wilson’s status just confirms that when the Steelers released Isaac Redman a couple of weeks ago they did so because they had no use for the veteran running back.
Wilson benefited from Redman’s release but if the Steelers really needed another linebacker on the 53-man roster he would have suited up in each or at least one of the past two games.
Also inactive for the Steelers are right guard David DeCastro (ankle), wide receiver Markus Wheaton (finger), cornerback Curtis Brown, nose tackle Hebron Fangupo, tight end Richard Gordon and quarterback Landry Jones.
Wheaton did some light catching with the other wide receivers a couple of hours before kickoff, and he appears to be moving closer to returning to the field.
Wheaton will miss his fourth game in a row after having surgery to fix a broken right pinkie.
The Patriots will be without top cornerback Aqib Talib (hip) while wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins is inactive after playing just 14 snaps last Sunday.
