FOXBORO — Expect Patriots veteran defender Anfernee Jennings to be active Sunday against the Dolphins.
Jennings was a healthy scratch in the Patriots’ Week 1 loss to the Raiders. That didn’t come as a major surprise since Jennings was buried on the depth chart for most of the spring and summer. But now Jennings will be back in the mix Sunday with Keion White ruled out with an illness.
“I think Anfernee is very ready,” head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday. “I had to make a tough decision last week. We can only have so many guys active, and so I’m excited to see Anfernee play. He’s always been prepared and taking advantage of his opportunities. He’ll continue, I would imagine, to do that on on Sunday, and play hard and play physical and be ready to go.”
Jennings, 28, has started 37 of 61 games over his five-year Patriots career. He’s viewed as a better fit for the defense previously run by Patriots head coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo that prioritized containment. The defense run by Vrabel relies more on attacking and getting upfield.
Jennings feels good in the new scheme.
“I’m very comfortable,” Jennings said. “At the end of the day, it’s football. I just look forward to go out there and do my job to help the team win.”
Jennings was a standout in the Patriots’ second preseason game, registering three sacks against the Vikings.
Rookie Elijah Ponder also could take on a greater role in Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
“Elijah has earned a role for himself on special teams and we’ll see about working him in there on defense,” Vrabel said.
Vrabel wouldn’t give any intel on whether White’s absence could be long-term. He wasn’t spotted in the Patriots’ facility this week.
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