Patriots Saturday 🛫☀️ Afternoon flight to Tampa 🕓🛗 4p ET deadline roster moves NOTES: LB Darius Harris, RB D'Ernest Johnson top options for p-squad elevations...Game-day forecast - 82 degrees (2nd warmest after Miami/89)...NE 2.5-point 'dog...Drake Maye - 74.1% (No. 1 NFL).

From the lighter side: Patriots offensive linemen continued their season-long tradition of dinner together on Thursdays. This week's location was "Karma" and the longest-tenured lineman, Morgan Moses, picked up the check. "Had to take care of my guys," he said. 🍣🏈🍣🏈

News story: With RB Rhamondre Stevenson out for a second straight week, rookie TreVeyon Henderson (51 of 68 snaps last week) is expected to lead the way again. Also, WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) and LB Christian Elliss (hip) are out. www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/...

Mike Vrabel arrives and says RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe), WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) and LB Christian Elliss (hip) are out for Sunday.

Scene-setter: DTs Milton Williams (97), Jeremiah Pharms (98) and Co. in the “NFL Rivalry” helmets.

As the Patriots stretch at Friday’s practice, RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) is not among the group. He is instead off to the side, and thus unlikely to play Sunday. WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) and LB Christian Elliss (hip) are also not spotted.

Patriots Friday 🏈11:30a: Practice 🎙️1:15p: Mike Vrabel 🔒🚪1:30p: Locker room NOTES: RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe), WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) miss first 2 practices of week...Join Seattle as only undefeated teams on road (4-0)...Marcus Jones - 19.3 PR avg. (1st in NFL).

CB Carlton Davis III was telling teammates and coaches today that it will be strange returning to Tampa Bay, as he hasn’t been back since the Buccaneers traded him in March of 2024. Here is CBs coach Justin Hamilton on what Davis (9 starts, 94.7% of snaps) has brought to NE:

Patriots Thursday injury report DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) LB Christian Elliss (hip) RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) LIMITED PARTICIPATION: C Garrett Bradbury (hip) DT Joshua Farmer (ankle) LB Marte Mapu (neck) CB Christian Gonzalez is not on the report.

OC Josh McDaniels on rookie WR Kyle Williams

On “Get Up”, analyst Dan Orlovsky previewed Sunday’s Patriots-Buccaneers matchup:

Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer leads off by sharing condolences to the Dallas Cowboys and family of Marshawn Kneeland.

Patriots Thursday 🎙️12:45p: Jeremy Springer/Josh McDaniels 🔒🚪 1:10p: Locker room 🏈 2p: Practice 🎙️ 4:05p: D assistants NOTES: Mike Vrabel message - "season is just starting"...WR Stefon Diggs - Bucs' speed stands out...DT Milton Williams - Baker Mayfield "keeps swinging."

Patriots injury report DID NOT PARTICIPATE: WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) C Garrett Bradbury (hip) LB Christian Elliss (hip) DT Joshua Farmer (ankle) RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) FULL PARTICIPATION: CB Christian Gonzalez (game-day concussion check) LB Marte Mapu (neck)

“A lot of the sacks I’ve taken (34) have been my fault.” — Drake Maye

OLB/DE Bradyn Swinson (43) earned the “show team” player of the week award for his work leading up to the win over the Falcons. A reminder that as the Patriots look to generate more pass rush, the fifth-round pick from LSU continues to develop behind the scenes.

Starting center Garrett Bradbury, who was on the injury report last week (toe) but played every snap in the win over the Falcons, doesn’t appear to be taking part in today’s practice. He’s mostly watching from the side.

WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), LB Christian Elliss (hip) and RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) aren’t scheduled to practice today, according to Mike Vrabel.

Mike Vrabel arrives, greets @kguregian.bsky.social, fields a question on if the Patriots were close to making a trade … and makes an unexpected analogy. 🏈🐣

Patriots Wednesday 🎙️12:55p: Mike Vrabel 🔒🚪1:10p: Locker room 🏈2p: Practice 🔟🕓 4p: Drake Maye NOTES: No trades at deadline...NE No. 1 run D (75.4 avg.)...Same starting OL in 8 of 9 games...1st trip to Tampa since 10/5/17 (a 19-14 win)...NE ties in TB: G Michael Jordan.

The Patriots had the following players in for free-agent tryouts: LB Andrew Farmer (Lane), LB D.J. Johnson (Oregon), DE Viliami Fehoko (San Jose State).

Opinion/analysis: Of the trades made across the NFL, the main one that made me wonder if it could have been a fit for the Patriots was Titans edge Dre'Mont Jones to the Ravens for a conditional 5th. But not convinced Titans would have entertained talks with NE on any player.

Not the transaction that many were hoping for, but Patriots announce one practice-squad swap: 🏈 Signed: WR Brenden Rice 🏈 Released: RB Jonathan Ward NOTES: Rice, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, is 6-2, 210 pounds. 2024 5th-round pick of Chargers. 3 games.

Cleaning out the notebook from the Patriots’ 24-23 win over the Falcons … eyes on the trade deadline … and a look ahead to Sunday’s road game against the Buccaneers.

Patriots Tuesday 📴 Players off 🕓 4p ET trade deadline NOTES: Mike Vrabel -- 7-2 record doesn't make potential trade more imminent as long-term view remains priority...Even turnover differential, while Bucs plus-7 (4th)...Drake Maye - 34 sacks...NE 4th in 3rd-down D (33.6%).

Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield, with Peyton and Eli on the Manningcast, looks ahead to Sunday and facing the Patriots:

Patriots "core 4" special teams report, Week 9:

“We just talked about it; we were like ‘it wasn’t our best game.’ It makes everyone sick. 6 sacks yesterday, that’s not good enough … It’s everyone involved but that’s too many. We need to get that number lower. We can. And we have. I believe we will.” — center Garrett Bradbury

DE K’Lavon Chaisson has a career-high 5.5 sacks … and eyes 6, 7 as the Patriots look ahead to Sunday’s road game against the Buccaneers.

Mike Vrabel says WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) is “day to day” but doesn’t currently project to practice early this week, which will likely give Kyle Williams an opportunity for expanded work. Vrabel relays Williams has been learning multiple spots, and he has settled down.

Former Patriots in their debuts with new teams: 🏈 S Kyle Dugger (29): Starts, plays 77 of 78 snaps, totals 4 tackles (1 solo, 3 assisted) in Steelers' 27-20 win over Colts 🏈 DE Keion White (56): Backup, plays 33 of 57 snaps, no official stats in 49ers' 34-24 win over Giants

Patriots are the only team in NFL to have 6 different players lead them in receiving in a game.

Jim Nantz (play by play), Tony Romo (analysis) and Tracy Wolfson (sideline) are on the CBS call for Sunday's Patriots-Buccaneers game.

Story (via @marcraimondi.bsky.social): Falcons coach Raheem Morris says Patriots simulated snap count w/ claps on intentional grounding call. On "The Greg Hill Show" Monday morning, Mike Vrabel says, "I didn't see anything ... Maybe that's a testament to our fans." www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/...

Story: Drake Maye had a passer rating over 100 for the 8th straight game, but 2 miscues had him pointing out a bad habit he says he needs to fix. Next challenge - at the Buccaneers, who are coming off a bye. www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/...

Patriots defensive snaps vs. Falcons: 🏈 ILB Jack Gibbens (25) steps in for injured Christian Elliss (hip/18) 🏈 ILB Robert Spillane at 96.4% on year 🏈 Charles Woods (14) maintains standing as No. 4 CB over Alex Austin (0, with 19 ST) 🏈 S Dell Pettus: 1 snap; 1 PBU in EZ

Patriots offensive snaps vs. Falcons: 🏈 RBs: TreVeyon Henderson (51), Terrell Jennings (17), D’Ernest Johnson (0, with 5 ST) 🏈 WR Kyle Williams (1 target/0 catches) plays season-high 31 as Kayshon Boutte (18) sidelined by hamstring 🏈 DT Khyiris Tonga as lead-blocking TE/FB

Patriots Monday 🎙️11:30a: Mike Vrabel NOTES: 6 wins in a row...Drake Maye blitzed on 48% of dropbacks...900 career receptions for Stefon Diggs...No RB has gained 50 rushing yards vs. NE...Red-zone D allows 3 TDs in 3 trips (now 32nd)...K'Lavon Chaisson - career-high 5.5 sacks.

CB Christian Gonzalez, who left the game with a head injury, answers questions from reporters. “I’m good,” he says, adding that he went through testing for a concussion.

Pop Douglas: 4 catches, 100 yards, TD.

RB Terrell Jennings arrives at the podium with the football — from his first career regular-season TD.

Before taking questions, Drake Maye opens with a statement on how the team was visited by military families at practice and who he was playing for today.

Drake Maye: I have to play better for this team.

“Don’t let anyone take the joy of what we do.” — Mike Vrabel, on part of his message to players after a sweat-it-out win in which they had 2 turnovers and struggled defensively in the red zone

NE 24, ATL 23 😓 Sweat it out (Romo missed PAT key) ⚰️ Had chance to bury 'em & didn't ⬆️ Diggs, Henderson, Pop ⬇️ M. Jones, OL pass pro/Onwenu 🚑 Boutte (hammy), Elliss (hip), Gonzo (head) 🗜️Bottled-up Bijan 🤭🫱Cardi B celebrates Diggs TD 🚜🚜 Tonga TE/FB 🏴‍☠️ Next: @ TB

Patriots injury update: CB Christian Gonzalez (head), questionable to return.

From ESPN Research: Drake Maye has been sacked 5 times today. Since 2000, he is the third Patriots QB to be sacked 5 times in back-to-back games. 🏈2024 Weeks 3-4 - Jacoby Brissett 🏈2000 Weeks 1-2 - Drew Bledsoe

Patriots have downgraded WR Kayshon Boutte to out (11:30 third quarter).

Patriots injury update: LB Christian Elliss (hip), return is questionable.

Patriots RB snap tracker (halftime/unofficial): TreVeyon Henderson: 28 Terrell Jennings: 8 D'Ernest Johnson: 0 (Johnson plays on kick return unit alongside Efton Chism III.)