We’re nearing kickoff for one of the most anticipated games at Gillette Stadium this season.

In just under 90 minutes, the New England Patriots (5-3) and Green Bay Packers (5-3) will kick off a Week 9 matchup that pits two iconic franchises against each other, and two teams with eerily similar identities and trajectories in 2026. Both squads will be missing key pieces when the action begins. Now, we know exactly who will take the field.

Here’s who’s in — and out — of New England’s showdown against Green Bay:

The following players on the Patriots’ 53-man roster will not be active for today’s game:

A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson headline the list of inactives for a second straight week on New England’s side, leaving Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense with a shorthanded supporting cast that has been commonplace throughout the first nine games of the regular season.

For Brown, long-term concerns are circulating about a lingering knee condition that is currently keeping him sidelined. He’ll be missing his sixth game of the year already, and multiple reports suggest that New England won’t see him back in the lineup until after their Week 12 bye. For Henderson, more clarity was provided this week on the “illness” designation he’s carried the last two weeks, and it’s a situation that supersedes his role between the white lines. In a social media post on Friday, Henderson explained:

“Recently, I experienced an unexpected and unusual medical emergency involving a series of unexplained neurological symptoms that required hospitalization for several days. During that time, I underwent extensive medical testing and evaluation. While the results of my comprehensive medical testing have come back positive and reassuring, the cause of this remains unknown and unexplainable.”

Brown and Henderson will be missed on Sunday evening, but Maye has been able to overcome a revolving door of players who have been in-and-out of the lineup in recent weeks with relative ease.

The Patriots added Charles Woods to the injury report on Sunday afternoon, updating his status to questionable with a hamstring injury. He joins the list of inactives for New England as a result.

The Packers will not be dressing the following players against the Patriots:

Green Bay has experienced similar misfortune on the injury front this season, especially along the offensive line. Aaron Banks, Zach Bako-Bewele, Travis Glover, Donovan Jennings, Jacob Monk, and Sean Rhyan have all missed time this season. MarShawn Lloyd (knee) was added to the injury report on Thursday and was limited in each of the Packers’ final two practices before game day. He is Green Bay’s leading rusher on the season — albeit with just 149 yards to show for it over the course of eight games (18.6 yards per game). On the Packers’ defense, Zaire Franklin will miss his third consecutive game with a fractured shin.

Each team will be fielding rosters without starters at key positions, but several additional injury situations will be worth monitoring when the action begins. 

New England listed five players as questionable for Sunday, but each will be in the lineup in some capacity. 

Hunter Henry’s game day status was in doubt throughout the week after a foot injury limited him to just eight snaps last weekend and kept him off of the practice field on Wednesday and Thursday. Henry returned in limited fashion on Friday and will suit up for game day, but how involved he will be remains to be seen.

Along the offensive line, Morgan Moses (foot) was carried a questionable game day status after being limited in practice all week. Moses has been working through a foot injury for the vast majority of the regular season.

On defense, the Patriots’ Kevin Byard III (chest), Carlton Davis III (neck), and Brenden Schooler (hamstring) all carried questionable injury designations into the weekend. Byard has been listed on the injury report with the chest injury for the last three weeks, but has not missed any game time. Davis returned to the lineup last week for the first time since October 4, while Schooler was a new addition on the injury report this week. 

Gabe Jacas (knee), Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder/knee), and Marcus Jones (foot) each logged limited participation in practice this week, but entered the weekend without any injury designation. 

Two players were listed as questionable for the Packers: cornerback Keisean Nixon and running back MarShawn Lloyd. Each are valuable contributors on either side of the ball, but only Nixon will be in action when the game begins.

Nixon (groin) missed Thursday’s practice and logged limited participation on Wednesday and Friday. He's has been a full-time starter for Green Bay throughout the regular season in a secondary that has largely eliminated the threat of their opponents’ downfield passing attacks.

Both squads made multiple roster transactions prior to game day, including practice squad elevations and activations to the 53-man roster:

For the first time this season, New England did not make any practice squad elevations to the roster for game day — but they will be welcoming back one key component of their offensive operation.

On Saturday, the Patriots activated Mack Hollins to the 53-man roster from injured reserve. Hollins missed Weeks 5-8 with a calf injury suffered on October 4, and will be a major addition to New England’s wide receiver corps. At the time of Hollins’ departure, he ranked as the Patriots’ leading receiver in targets (20), receptions (15), and yards (209), and continues to be a trusted target for Maye in the passing game with a large frame, wide catch radius, and dependable hands.

Hollins was the second activation for New England during the week. On Tuesday, the Patriots activated offensive tackle Marcus Bryant to the 53-man roster, bolstering depth along the offensive line behind the starters. Bryant first injured his ankle in the preseason and began the regular season on injured reserve; Week 9 will be the first time he’s on the roster for game day.

Veteran guard Greg Van Roten (hamstring) also returned to practice for New England this week, opening his 21-day activation window from injured reserve. He was listed as questionable entering the weekend, but was not activated to the 53-man roster ahead of Sunday.

The Packers made one practice squad elevation for game day and did not activate any players off of injured reserve.

Tight end Drake Dabney will be the lone addition to their roster. The former 2025 undrafted free agent spent his rookie season on Green Bay’s practice squad and was elevated twice, registering one reception for three yards. Sunday will be Dabney’s first elevation of the 2026 season for the Packers.

Green Bay does have two players preparing to make a return to the playing field, as edge rusher Micah Parsons and running back Chris Brooks have both been designated to return and practiced with the team this week. Neither were activated prior to game day.

Parsons’ absence dates back to the latter stages of the 2025 regular season when he tore his right ACL and meniscus — a huge blow to a Packers’ pass-rush that has been surprisingly effective without his services through their first eight games of the fall. Brooks played in Green Bay’s first four games of the regular season before landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

What are your predictions for Sunday’s clash between the Patriots and Packers? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.

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