### Patriots Face Texans with Major Injuries and Rookie QB Debut

The New England Patriots are set to face the Houston Texans this Sunday with a significant shake-up to their roster, highlighted by a lengthy injury report and the debut of rookie quarterback Drake Maye. The team will be without key running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who has been ruled out with a foot injury after missing all practices this week.

In Stevenson's absence, the Patriots are expected to rely heavily on Antonio Gibson, who started last week's game. Head coach Jerod Mayo has also hinted at the possibility of promoting running backs Kevin Harris or Terrell Jennings from the practice squad to fill the void.

The Patriots' offensive line, however, offers a glimmer of hope, potentially starting the same five players for the first time this season. The lineup of LT Vederian Lowe, LG Michael Jordan, C Nick Leverett, RG Mike Onwenu, and RT Trey Jacobs showed promise last week, achieving a franchise-record 7.9 yards per rush attempt and a season-best pressure rate of 43.2%.

Defensively, the key concern surrounds the availability of safety Kyle Dugger, who has been limited in practice following an ankle injury sustained on September 29. Dugger's return could solidify a defense that had to rely on versatile contributions from Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus, and Marte Mapu in his absence last week.

Additionally, linebacker Sione Takitaki's potential return from a knee procedure could bolster a run defense weakened by the season-ending injury to captain Ja'Whaun Bentley. While Takitaki is primarily known for his pass defense, he may be required to play a more versatile role.

With these adjustments, the Patriots aim to energize their season, particularly with the first career start for Drake Maye. Head Coach Mayo expressed a "renewed sense of energy" with the rookie quarterback, who was the third overall pick in last April's draft, expected to elevate an offense currently ranked 31st in scoring.

The Patriots will kick off against the Texans at 1:00 pm ET at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, eager to show resilience amidst their roster challenges.