The New England Patriots would want to continue their winning streak against the New Orleans Saints. Both teams are riding with high confidence; the Patriots are reaching week 6 with a win over the once unbeaten Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, the Saints have also become victorious in Week 6 by defeating the Giants.

However, injuries are a key concern for both squads, with Mike Vrabel missing out on four crucial players for the Patriots. Running back Antonio Gibson with a knee injury, safety Jaylinn Hawkins is out with a hamstring injury, linebacker Anfernee Jennings is suffering from an ankle issue, and DE Keion White is out with an elbow injury.

All these players will miss the game against the Saints, as they are officially listed as ruled out by the Patriots.

Gibson tore his ACL on a kickoff return in the second quarter against the Bills. He stumbled after being flipped by Cam Lewis. As of the 2025 season, in all five games, on 25 attempts, Gibson had 106 rushing yards and a touchdown.

In his absence, Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson will witness an increase in their role in the backfield. Henderson has 121 rushing yards and a touchdown on 32 carries. Whereas, Stevenson has 139 rushing yards and two TDs on 38 carries.

Hawkins’s loss will put more responsibility on Kyle Dugger’s shoulders. So far this season, Dugger has had 12 tackles, out of which 5 are solo, with no registered turnovers.

LB Jennings and DE White are also ruled out of the Saints game, further testing the Patriots’ depth.

The injury concerns for New England do not stop here. CB Christian Gonzalez is listed as questionable for the Saints game. Vrabel, while addressing the media, made it clear that the team will make a final call on his status 90 minutes before the game.

“We’ll have a plan if he does go and we’ll have a plan if he doesn’t – just like everybody else,” Vrabel said.

However, it won’t be an easy game, even if the Patriots leads the all time series by 10-6, the Saints gave a disappointing loss, 34-0, to the Patriots when they last played in Foxborough.

The Saints also have some trouble on their injury list.

 Kellen Moore without his CB vs the Patriots

Saints head coach Kellen Moore also has to worry about injuries, with cornerback Isaac Yiadom continuing to be out with a hamstring injury. Yiadom recorded 16 tackles in his first 140 defensive snaps through the first four games.

Following his absence from last week’s victory over the Giants, Yiadom did not practice this week and will week 6 game as well , thrusting rookie Quincy Riley into the starting slot corner position for the second consecutive week.

Riley did well in his first career start, but the Patriots could try to get to him early and often, particularly if Christian Gonzalez is out and the game becomes a shootout. The Saints’ corner depth is a worry, especially against New England’s up-and-coming passing attack under Vrabel’s leadership.

New Orleans also has two notable offensive contributors questionable: defensive tackle John Ridgeway III (shoulder) and running back Alvin Kamara (ankle). Ridgeway was limited in practice all week, but Kamara is the one whose status will be most closely watched heading into Sunday.

Kamara, a key player in both run and passing game, informed reporters Thursday that his ankle tightness “wasn’t that serious.” The same was said by head coach Kellen Moore, who stated the All-Pro back “was doing well.” Yet as of Friday morning, Kamara was still not fully practicing and will be a game-time decision. If he’s out, it would dramatically change the Saints’ game plan on offense and put more pressure on rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler to do a little more.

Moore’s offense is based on mismatches and playmaking ability, which Kamara has. Being without him, along with Yiadom on defense, leaves Moore with a bad spot on both sides of the ball.

With both squads riding the highs of Week 5 wins, this Week 6 battle is expected to be a physical, chess-match style fight, though one in which not all the pieces are on the board. Mike Vrabel’s Patriots are more coherent, but will have to survive through several defensive and offensive absences.

Kellen Moore’s Saints are on the upswing, but youth in their secondary and ambiguity regarding Kamara could become the difference as Sunday’s kickoff draws near.