The New England Patriots will not have one of their starting cornerbacks, Jason McCourty, on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Week 17. He will miss the game with a groin injury.
Cornerback Jon Jones, however, will make his return from a groin injury after missing time. He will likely start at slot cornerback on Sunday. Receiver Julian Edelman, despite dealing with limitations for weeks (shoulder/knee), will play Sunday. And running back Sony Michel will be active after getting downgraded to questionable on Saturday with an illness.
Aside from McCourty, here are the Patriots’ inactives: quarterback Cody Kessler, running back Damien Harris, defensive tackle Byron Cowart, offensive lineman Jermaine Eleumunor, tight end Ryan Izzo and safety Terrence Brooks.
#Patriots inactives. pic.twitter.com/2ntHROjr3V
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 29, 2019
The Patriots had nine players listed as questionable heading into Sunday: Edelman (knee/shoulder), Michel (illness) linebackers Jamie Collins (shoulder), Bentley (knee) and Shilique Calhoun (illness), tackle Marcus Cannon (ankle), safety Terrance Brooks (groin) and cornerbacks McCourty (groin) and Jones (groin).
If the Patriots win on Sunday, they will retain the No. 2 spot in the AFC playoff seeding and will earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. They have already clinched the AFC East title.
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