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Patriots open Reggie Gilliam's return window ahead of Lions game in Germany
New England opened fullback Reggie Gilliam's 21-day practice window, its fifth IR return designation, as the 5-4 Patriots head to Germany to face Detroit.
The New England Patriots have designated fullback Reggie Gilliam to return from injured reserve. That starts his 21-day practice window and gives the team a way to bring back a blocking specialist it has gone without for weeks. According to Pats Pulpit's Bernd Buchmasser, writing for SB Nation, Gilliam is flying with the team to Germany. That means he could be activated in time for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, though New England has until the window closes to decide. If he is not activated by then, he reverts to injured reserve for the rest of the season.
The roster has room. The Patriots released tight end Tanner Arkin on Monday. Arkin, a rookie, had been filling in at fullback, and his release left 52 of 53 active spots filled. Gilliam could step into the open spot without a corresponding move. The complication is guard Greg Van Roten, who is also in his return window. Van Roten was next in line at right guard after Mike Onwenu broke his ankle in September, and he matters more given how thin the interior line is. Activating both would mean freeing another spot. Buchmasser considers a release unlikely because the team brought its full healthy roster overseas, so the likelier outcomes are one activation this week or an extra spot opened by moving someone to an injury list.
Several players could end up on such a list. TreVeyon Henderson, Ben Brown and Carlton Davis missed Wednesday's practice, and Walter Rouse is in the concussion protocol. 98.5 The Sports Hub reported that Henderson (illness) and Brown (knee) are among the players already ruled out for Sunday.
The designation also uses up something limited. Teams can bring back eight players from injured reserve in a regular season, and Gilliam is New England's fifth, after A.J. Brown, Mack Hollins, Marcus Bryan and Van Roten. That leaves three returns for six eligible players: Romeo Doubs, Onwenu, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Quintayvious Hutchins, Khalil Jacobs and Dell Pettus. Gilliam counts against the limit even if he is never activated.
What it means for Detroit
New England is 5-4 and has alternated wins and losses over the last four games. The latest result was a 45-27 home loss to Green Bay, the most points the defense has allowed this season. The Patriots won 24-19 at Miami the week before. They are 3-1 at home and 2-3 on the road, and all three of their losses away from Foxborough came against Seattle, Jacksonville and Chicago. With Henderson ruled out, a fullback who blocks for the remaining backs and helps on special teams could get the run game going again against a strong Detroit team.
The market makes the Lions a small favorite. On this site's board, which tracks 12 venues, Novig lists Detroit at -141 on the moneyline and New England at +138. On the spread, Novig has the Lions favored by 2.5 at -117, with the Patriots +2.5 at +113. The best Patriots spread number elsewhere is Pinnacle's +3 at -113, a half-point difference that matters this close to a field goal. Novig's total is 51.5, with the over at +108, while theScore Bet's 50.5 at -110 is the best over price available. Sportsbook hold runs from 3.0% to 5.5% across the venues. Sunday's game airs on Fox.