Linebacker Robert Spillane has been ruled out, while other starters are listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup.
Robert Spillane didn’t play a snap in the Patriots’ loss to the Bills. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
December 19, 2025 | 3:45 PM
2 minutes to read
The Patriots’ defense might be more than undermanned when they try to slow down two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Sunday night.
Five defensive starters will either be ruled out or listed as questionable on the injury report ahead of Sunday’s game, head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Friday.
Linebacker Robert Spillane won’t play due to a left foot/ankle injury. Edge rusher Harold Landry (knee), cornerback Marcus Jones (knee), cornerback Carlton Davis (hip), and defensive tackle Christian Barmore (knee), meanwhile, will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. That list doesn’t include defensive tackle Milton Williams, who’ll miss his fourth straight game due to an ankle injury as he remains on injured reserve.
The good news for the Patriots is that Jones told reporters that he plans to play against the Ravens later on Friday. Jones and Davis returned to practice on Friday after each had missed the first two days of practice this week.
Spillane, who leads the team in total tackles (97), didn’t practice this week and was seen in the locker room wearing a boot. He was active for the Patriots’ Week 15 loss to the Bills, but didn’t play a snap as Vrabel later said he was only available on an emergency basis.
Without Spillane, the Patriots had trouble slowing down the Bills’ ground game last week. The Bills rushed for 168 yards on 4.5 yards per carry, with star running back James Cook going for 107 yards on 4.9 yards per carry. It marked the first time this season the Patriots had allowed an opposing player to rush for over 100 yards.
Jack Gibbens will replace Spillane at linebacker for a second straight week, starting alongside Christian Elliss.
“Communication wasn’t an issue. I don’t ever question that. We just have to play better defense,” Vrabel told reporters when asked about Gibbens likely being the defensive player who’ll have the communication in his helmet for Sunday’s game. “That’s team defense. That’s getting stops on third down. That’s finding ways to create turnovers. It’s hard to play defense in this league, we know that, without turnovers. And then when they do get to the red zone, we’ve got to force them to kick field goals.”
The Ravens’ ground game is certainly among the league’s most dangerous. They’re third in rushing yards per game (146.2), while they’re 5.2 yards per carry is tops in the NFL. Derrick Henry is still one of the game’s top running backs, rushing for 1,125 yards on 4.8 yards per carry. Of course, Lamar Jackson is also one of the league’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, rushing for 333 yards on 5.5 yards per carry in 2025.
As the Patriots’ run defense will be hurt without Spillane, their pass defense will certainly be compromised if any of Landry, Jones, Davis, or Barmore don’t play on Sunday. Barmore has been one of the game’s best defensive tackles at generating pressure this year, with his 11 percent pass rush win rate ranking 12th at the position. Barmore’s 44 pressures also rank eighth in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
The Patriots’ pass rush was already impacted by the loss of Williams in recent weeks, logging just five sacks in their last three games. So, Barmore and Landry’s availability for Sunday’s game is vital.
On the backend, Jones and Davis have played key roles for the Patriots in recent weeks. Jones had a pick-six in the Week 12 win over the Bengals and recorded his second punt return touchdown of the season in Week 13 against the Giants. Davis has only allowed 41 yards when targeted over the Patriots’ last three games, per PFF.
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