Patriots Face Roster Decisions Ahead of Super Bowl LX: Will Jennings or Farmer Suit Up?
As the New England Patriots prepare for their Super Bowl LX showdown with the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, the front office has more than just game planning on its plate. Two young players-running back Terrell Jennings and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer-remain on injured reserve, and the clock is ticking on whether they’ll be activated in time to contribute on football’s biggest stage.
Let’s start with Jennings. The second-year back hasn’t played since the team’s Week 14 bye, when he was placed on injured reserve.
But he returned to practice on January 14, opening a 21-day window to be activated to the 53-man roster. That window closes Wednesday.
If he’s not activated by then, he’ll be watching the Super Bowl from the sidelines in street clothes.
There’s a real decision to be made here. Jennings offers more upside than D’Ernest Johnson, who’s been elevated from the practice squad multiple times this season.
As the potential third back behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, Jennings brings a bit more burst and versatility to the rotation. But activating him doesn’t guarantee he’ll see the field on Sunday.
And with the Super Bowl roster tight, every spot matters.
Then there’s the injury factor. Jennings has cleared concussion protocol, but he’s still dealing with a hamstring issue that kept him out of last Friday’s practice.
That’s a red flag, especially this close to game time. If he’s not 100 percent, the Patriots might opt to keep things status quo and roll with the backs who’ve been healthy and available down the stretch.
On the other side of the ball, Joshua Farmer is in a slightly different situation. The rookie defensive tackle-taken in the fourth round last April-was placed on IR after injuring his hamstring in a December matchup against the Ravens.
Like Jennings, he returned to practice at the first opportunity, which for him came on January 21. That gives the team a bit more time to evaluate him, as his activation window extends right up to the Super Bowl.
Farmer’s case mirrors Jennings’ in many ways. He’s a depth piece, and the question is whether activating him adds more value than keeping another position group intact.
New England already has a solid interior rotation with Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga, and Cory Durden. Leonard Taylor is also in the mix as a potential fifth option.
So the decision on Farmer may come down to whether the Patriots want to beef up the defensive line or keep flexibility elsewhere-perhaps on special teams or in the secondary.
It’s worth noting that Farmer was a full participant in both practices last week. That’s a good sign. He may be closer to game-ready than Jennings, and if the team wants to add some fresh legs to the D-line, Farmer could be the guy.
Ultimately, these are the kinds of roster decisions that can fly under the radar but loom large in a game where every snap, every rotation, and every matchup matters. The Patriots have until midweek to make the call on Jennings and a bit longer for Farmer. Whether either makes the cut for Sunday remains to be seen-but in a game of inches, even the smallest personnel move could tip the scales.