If the Patriots are going to improve to 8-2 with a road win against Carolina on Monday night, they are going to have to win with a limited secondary. New England will play without safety Steve Gregory and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, both of whom are inactive. It's not all bad for New England, however, with Aqib Talib and Kyle Arrington both active.
Patriots vs. Panthers 2013 inactives: Aqib Talib active for New England
The Patriots are banged up in the secondary, but New England will have Aqib Talib back in the fold.
Gregory and Dennard were ruled out earlier in the week, Gregory due to a finger injury and Dennard due to a knee injury. Arrington and Talib were both listed as questionable after being limited in practice during the week. Talib missed the last three games due to a hip injury while Arrington injured his groin last week.
Although New England will be forced to get by without a couple of key players on defense, the Patriots could get a boost offensively with the return of Shane Vereen. Vereen was activated from injured reserve on Monday after suffering a wrist injury in Week 1. He’s expected to be eased back into the offense, but proved to be an effective weapon in his lone appearance in 2013.
For Carolina, Chase Blackburn and Chris Scott are both inactive as expected. Neither practiced during the week and both were ruled out on Saturday. Nate Chandler will likely start at right guard in place of Scott. Cornerback Drayton Florence is active for the Pantehrs after being listed as questionable on the injury report.
Patriots inactives:
G Chris Barker, LB Steve Beauharnais, RB Brandon Bolden, DE Jake Bequette, S Steve Gregory, CB Alfonzo Dennard and RB Leon Washington
Panthers inactives:
WR Tavarres King, WR Marvin McNutt, RB Kenjon Barner, OL Chris Scott, TE Ben Hartsock, DE Frank Alexander and LB Chase Blackburn.
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