The Patriots are gearing up for their divisional round clash with the Houston Texans, and all signs point to linebacker Harold Landry III being available for Sunday’s matchup.
While New England didn’t come out and say it directly, their roster decisions on Saturday spoke volumes. The team elevated defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III and running back D’Ernest Johnson from the practice squad, and activated cornerback Alex Austin off injured reserve.
Noticeably absent? Any linebacker reinforcements - including Darrell Taylor, who was signed to the practice squad earlier in the week and widely viewed as potential injury insurance for Landry.
That lack of movement at linebacker is a strong indicator that Landry, despite battling a knee issue for much of the season, is expected to suit up.
Now, Landry’s health has been a storyline all year. At 29, he’s been grinding through the season with that nagging knee, but things got particularly tricky late in the year.
He missed the final two regular season games - against the Dolphins and Jets - and his usage was clearly limited in last week’s wild-card win over the Chargers. He played just 26 snaps in that game, his lowest total of the season, and didn’t see the field in the fourth quarter.
Instead, the Patriots leaned on Elijah Ponder (22 snaps) and Anfernee Jennings (20) to close things out.
Still, the Patriots’ decision to roll with the same linebacker rotation suggests confidence in Landry’s ability to contribute, even if he’s not at 100%. Whether that means a snap count again or a more expanded role remains to be seen, but it’s clear the coaching staff trusts the group they’ve got.
Against a Houston offense that’s shown flashes of explosiveness, having Landry on the field - even in a limited capacity - could be a difference-maker. His experience and presence alone can help steady a defense that will need to be sharp against a dynamic Texans attack.
Bottom line: Landry’s trending toward playing, and the Patriots are sticking with the personnel that got them through the wild-card round. If he can gut it out and give them meaningful snaps, it could go a long way toward punching their ticket to the AFC Championship.