The Patriots on Friday surprisingly released veteran S Jabrill Peppers, despite having $4.32 million guaranteed left on his contract for 2025. Peppers had recently appeared to slip down the depth chart and then played deep into the team's final preseason game. The team now looks poised to run Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson as the safety starters, with Kyle Dugger and Dell Pettus backing them up.

Patriots S Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) is inactive for today's game against the Bills. S Kyle Dugger (ankle, illness) is active. Use Dugger as planned in IDP lineups.

Patriots S Kyle Dugger is active for today's game against the Rams. He missed the past three weeks with an ankle injury but practiced throughout the week and should be ready for IDP use. Expect Jaylinn Hawkins to join him at safety, with Marte Mapu inactive for the game.

Patriots S Kyle Dugger is inactive for today's game against the Titans, marking the second straight game he'll miss with an ankle sprain. That leaves Jaylinn Hawkins and Marte Mapu as the starting safeties. LB Christian Elliss -- who was also questionable -- is active vs. Tennessee.

Patriots S Kyle Dugger is inactive for today's game against the Jets because of an ankle injury. He was a late addition to the injury report, landing on it Saturday with a "questionable" tag. His absence leaves Marte Mapu and Jaylinn Hawkins as the safety starters. Elsewhere on the Patriots defense, Edge Josh Uche is a healthy scratch. That might indicate he's getting traded this week. Uche has seen too little playing time with New England to be fantasy relevant. We'd have to see what his role might look like elsewhere.

Patriots S Kyle Dugger (ankle) is active for today's game against the Texans after missing last week. We'll see about the playing time at the other safety spot, which will miss the suspended Jabrill Peppers. Jaylinn Hawkins and Marte Mapu each played full time in Week 5. Edge Anfernee Jennings (shoulder) and CB Marcus Jones (groin) are also active vs. Houston.

Patriots S Kyle Dugger (ankle) is inactive for today's game against the Dolphins. That leaves the New England defense without both starting safeties, as Jabrill Peppers had already been ruled out. Jaylinn Hawkins should start in one spot. We'll see exactly how playing time sorts at the other. The Patriots will, at least, have CB Jonathan Jones, CB Marcus Jones, and Edge Anfernee Jennings. All entered the day questionable. None is likely to be a big IDP factor.