The Patriots released their official inactive list to the media Sunday ahead of their game with Green Bay. The report assuredly stirred up some controversy and questions regarding the names it features.
Among those listed were predicted inactives: Cameron Fleming, Chandler Jones, Malcom Butler, James White and others. It also surprised Patriots fans by listing long snapper, Danny Aiken, as being out with a concussion.
Aiken suffered a concussion late in last week’s game with Detroit when he was hit on the top of the head on a punt play.
Rob Nincovich who was warming up as a long snapper during pregame will be filling Aiken’s role on punts and kicks vs the Packers.
Nincovich will likely not lose the game for the Patriots from the long snapping position. He actually spent time as a long snapper for the New Orleans Saints early in his career and as recently as this past preseason has occasionally sent snaps back to Patriots punters and kickers.
Needless to say though, the situation is somewhat unexpected as the Patriots only recently released long snapper Charley Hughlett. Hughlett was brought in midweek when Aiken’s concussion seemed like it would keep him out of Sunday’s game. He was then dropped Friday with coaches and management citing that Aiken would likely be well enough to participate.
Of course, that is will not be happening. This recent actions are begging the question of how and why either Hughlett was prematurely released or Aiken was falsely diagnosed.
Beyond the long snapping situation, Sunday’s roster has wide receiver Aaron Dobson playing in his first game since Week Six in Buffalo. This move comes after Dobson was named practice player of the week for the Patriots.
The Patriots take the field at 4:25 and will be looking to put aside any pregame controversy. They have their minds set on winning their eighth straight game.
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