After missing two games with an ankle injury, Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones says he’s ready to go for Monday night’s AFC showdown against the Texans.
Although Jones is listed as questionable on the official injury report, he didn’t sound like he had much question that he can play in a game that will go a long way toward determining home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, after Jones missed the game in which the Patriots clinched the AFC East on Sunday.
“Ready to play against the Texans,” Jones said. “We went out there and we won a championship and I wasn’t out there. But I’m still thankful to be a part of this team.”
Tight end Rob Gronkowski is the only player the Patriots have ruled out, while 13 players are questionable: Jones, Logan Mankins, Ron Brace, Patrick Chung, Dan Connolly, Aaron Hernandez, Dont’a Hightower, Brandon Lloyd, Kyle Love, Nick McDonald, Brandon Spikes, Sebastian Vollmer and Wes Welker. Jerod Mayo is listed as probable.
The Texans have ruled out tackle Derek Newton and linebacker Brooks Reed and listed cornerback Alan Ball and tight end Garrett Graham as questionable. The Texans have also listed a whopping 18 players -- or one-third of their 53-man roster -- as probable.