Patriots vs. Chargers: Key Inactives and Offensive Shifts Ahead of Week 17 Clash, Cole Strange Takes on New Role as Patriots Face Chargers

It is Week 17 of the NFL season and the New England Patriots are looking to face the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium. It will be a much-anticipated AFC showdown with some of the hottest temperatures expected this season. Anticipating this match-up, Patriots have released their inactives list, and that lineup might actually shift the strategy on-field. Let’s have a deeper look at the list:

Who's Out for Patriots?

Six players are listed as inactive for Saturday's game. Center Ben Brown is the biggest loss, a key member of the Patriots' offense line. This might shake up team’s energy and outcome.

The other inactives include:

• Jabrill Peppers, Safety
• Terrell Jennings, Running Back
• Sidy Sow, Offensive Lineman
• Tyrese Robinson, Offensive Lineman
• Joe Milton III, Quarterback (emergency third QB)

This means that the Patriots have some real work to do, particularly on the offensive line, otherwise the game can face some serious consequences.

Cole Strange: Taking on a New Role

With Ben Brown being out, the attention will be on 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange. Fans may remember some of the strong games from Strange at left guard before a devastating patellar tendon injury against the Kansas City Chiefs sidelined him for more than a year. He is now ready to step into the center role in his NFL career.



While Strange's shift to center may pay off in the long term, it is a position that will take time for the entire offense—quarterback included—to get accustomed to. From calling protections to syncing up snaps, the task of stepping into this new role midseason is huge. However, Strange's adaptability and previous experience make him a promising candidate to hold down the line, everyone’s eyes are set on Cole, let’s see if he can pull this off or not.

A Pivotal Matchup for New England

As the Patriots get ready for their 16th game of the season, they will require the help of veterans as well as up-and-comers to fill in some holes that injuries have caused. The Chargers are going to be a tough foe, coming from the other side of the AFC.


Will the center position of Cole Strange be the stabilizer for New England's offense? Will the absence of players like Jabrill Peppers and Terrell Jennings affect the Patriots' capacity to control the game? Patriots fans will not have to wait too long to find out. The match is going to set the tone for the patriots in the coming future.


Also read - NFL Insider Reveals Who Could Be the Answer to Aaron Rodgers’ 2025 Exit