Patriots will be extra shorthanded at wide receiver vs. Steelers
DeVante Parker is a surprise inactive Thursday night against the Steelers, leaving the Patriots with just four available wide receivers.
Parker was listed as questionable with a knee injury. He traveled to Pittsburgh but will not play. The Patriots have Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster and QB/wide receiver Malik Cunningham at wide receiver. Cunningham was elevated from the practice squad Thursday afternoon.
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Here’s the Patriots’ full list of inactives:
WR DeVante Parker
CB Shuan Wade
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
RB JaMycal Hasty
OT Vederian Lowe
WR Kayshon Boutte
WR Demario Douglas
Notes:
— Wade, Stevenson, Boutte and Douglas didn’t make the trip to Pittsburgh.
— Alex Austin will help fill the void of Wade to play alongside J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones and Myles Bryant in his Patriots debut.
— The Patriots elevated Kevin Harris from the practice squad Thursday. The 2022 sixth-round pick work into a rotation with Ezekiel Elliott and Ty Montgomery.
— Lowe has been a healthy scratch in recent weeks after starting at left and right tackle earlier this season. The Patriots will have Trent Brown, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Sidy Sow, Mike Onwenu, Conor McDermott, Jake Andrews and Atonio Mafi available on the offensive line.
— It will be interesting to see how Cunningham is used. He’s still a developmental wide receiver and could see snaps at his college position of quarterback in relief of starter Bailey Zappe.