EAST RUTHERFORD -- For the first time since Oct. 21, Aaron Hernandez will be active for the Patriots as they take on the Jets at MetLife Stadium. But starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back/knee) will be inactive, as will newly activated offensive lineman Markus Zusevics.
Hernandez' return coincides with the loss of Rob Gronkowski for several weeks with a broken left forearm, suffered last week against the Colts. Zusevics was activated hours before the game off the non-football injury list.
Vollmer (knee/back) and Zusevics join rookie defensive lineman Jake Bequette and Marquice Cole as game day inactives. Rob Gronkowski, Logan Mankins and Chandler Jones were ruled out on Wednesday.
Mankins (ankle/calf) is missing his fourth game in six weeks, which includes the bye week. Jones is missing the first game of his rookie season after starting at defensive end for the first 10 games.
Dan Connolly is back after missing last week with a back injury while Patrick Chung returns after a four-game absence due mostly to an injured shoulder.
For more, visit the Patriots team page at weei.com/patriots [1].
Links:
[1] http://www.weei.com/patriots
[2] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/patriots