Carlton Davis III is listed as questionable on the final Patriots injury report ahead of Sunday’s home opener — the Patriots vs. Steelers injury report shows he missed three consecutive practices with a neck issue. Head coach Mike Vrabel said the team will keep evaluating Davis through pregame checks: “We’ll have to see how he comes in here tomorrow,” Vrabel said, adding the staff will update availability if the designation changes.
Carlton Davis III during the 2025 season at Gillette Stadium. Photo via Icon Sportswire/Getty Images.
Kickoff is Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots also listed multiple questionables and one confirmed out: rookie tackle Dametrious Crownover is ruled out for Sunday’s game.
Patriots vs. Steelers injury report: quick summary
- Carlton Davis III — listed QUESTIONABLE after being a non-participant for three straight practices; played 49 of 50 defensive snaps in Week 1.
- Ben Brown — QUESTIONABLE after three straight limited practices.
- Dre’Mont Jones — QUESTIONABLE after limited practices.
- Dametrious Crownover — OUT; did not practice this week.
- Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.
Patriots statuses and practice details
The Patriots’ designations are based on practice participation and coach evaluation. Vrabel noted Davis did not practice late in the week and described the situation as day-to-day: “We’ll have to see how he comes in here tomorrow,” he said. The team will provide updates if the designation changes before kickoff. (See the coach quote and original reporting in the source link below.)
Ben Brown and Dre’Mont Jones logged limited practices this week and were listed questionable as coach-designated statuses; those labels reflect team evaluation, not independent medical confirmation. Statuses can shift up through the pregame period.
Dametrious Crownover, a rookie tackle who appeared on special teams last week, was sidelined for the full practice week and is officially ruled out for Sunday.
Who could step in on the boundary if Davis is inactive
If Carlton Davis III lands on the inactive list, the Patriots have several immediate boundary options who could pair with All-Pro christian gonzalez. Likely alternatives based on the current roster and practice-week notes:
- Charles Woods — veteran outside option the staff can deploy on the boundary.
- Marcus Jones — team captain and regular special-teams contributor who has experience on the outside.
- Karon Prunty — rookie depth option currently on the 53-man roster.
- Channing Canada — backup on the roster who could see extra defensive snaps if needed.
Practice-squad veteran Kindle Vildor is available as emergency depth but is not on the active roster. The Patriots could mix these personnel choices depending on matchup needs and special-teams responsibilities.
Implications for Week 2 game plan and fantasy
Carlton Davis III played nearly every defensive snap in Week 1 (49 of 50), so his absence would be a tangible shift for New England’s boundary coverage and personnel groupings. Opposing game-plans could test whichever replacement sees increased snaps, and that matters for matchup-dependent defensive play calls.
For fantasy and DFS players, the primary impacts are indirect: a change in defensive personnel can alter how the Patriots match up in nickel packages and how often certain receivers see one-on-one opportunities. If Charles Woods or Marcus Jones handles more defensive snaps, look for small shifts in coverage responsibilities rather than wholesale schematic changes.
On the offensive line, Crownover’s confirmed absence affects swing-tackle depth and special-teams assignments; he played two special-teams snaps last week, so other backups may take on those duties Sunday.
What to watch before kickoff
- Final inactive list published about 90 minutes before the 1 p.m. ET kickoff — that list will confirm whether Davis is active.
- Morning walkthrough and pregame reports for any late practice participants or designation updates.
- Coach updates — Vrabel said the staff will update the team if designations change before kickoff.
All questionables above are coach-designated and subject to change. These statuses are team-reported availability decisions, not independent medical confirmations.
Source: Reporting and quotes drawn from Pats Pulpit coverage. For the original piece and coach quotes, see the Pats Pulpit story: Patriots vs. Steelers Friday injury report: Carlton Davis III among three questionable.
By Patriots Report — Published 2026-09-18T19:55:00Z
