This past offseason, the Patriots elected to part ways with homegrown slot receiver Jakobi Meyers and instead sign Smith-Schuster to a three-year contract worth up to $33 million. He was supposed to play an important role in reviving New England’s passing attack, but did not live up to expectations, in part because of injuries.
If the Patriots want to part ways with Smith-Schuster next season, they’ll likely have to do so via trade. Releasing him before June 1 creates $12.27 million in dead money and eats up $1.67 million in salary-cap space.
Releasing him after June 1 creates $9.63 million in dead money and opens $1 million in cap space. A trade before June 1, on the other hand, creates $5.27 million in dead money and opens $5.36 million in cap room. A trade after June 1 would benefit the team the most, generating just $2.63 million in dead money, while freeing $8 million in cap space.
With Smith-Schuster sidelined, rookie Demario Douglas and veteran DeVante Parker will likely remain quarterback Bailey Zappe’s favorite targets. Second-year wide receiver Tyquan Thornton could also get an opportunity to earn more snaps.
Peppers, Boutte ruled out
The Patriots have ruled out safety Jabrill Peppers and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte for Sunday’s game.
The team initially listed Peppers as questionable with a hamstring injury before downgrading him to out. Peppers, who has emerged as a leader both on and off the field this season, also missed last week’s game against Denver.
He did not practice Wednesday and Thursday before returning in a limited capacity Friday.
Peppers has already reached multiple playing time incentives this season, having been on the field for at least 40, 50, 60, and 70 percent of the defense’s snaps, but will need to suit up for Week 18 in order to clinch 80 percent.
Without Peppers, the Patriots will certainly hope safeties Kyle Dugger and Myles Bryant are able to go. Both players were listed as questionable.
Dugger, who has not missed a defensive snap in nine games, missed Friday’s practice with an illness, while Bryant is dealing with a chest injury.
Boutte, meanwhile, did not have an injury designation headed into the weekend, but came down with an illness. He did not practice Thursday because of personal reasons but returned Friday as a full participant.
Henry part of travel party
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
The fact that the Patriots did not rule out tight end Hunter Henry means he will travel with the team to Buffalo.
Henry missed his first game as a Patriot last week with a knee injury suffered in Week 15. Special teams captain Matthew Slater also has a chance to play, after missing his first game since 2017 last week. Slater practiced in a limited capacity all week because of his hamstring.
Other players questionable for Sunday are defensive tackle Christian Barmore (knee), linebacker Anfernee Jennings (knee), and cornerbacks Jonathan Jones (knee) and Shaun Wade (hip).
The Patriots signed safety Joshuah Bledsoe to the 53-man roster off the practice squad. Bledsoe, a 2021 sixth-round pick, has yet to take a snap this season. The team also temporarily elevated tight end Matt Sokol and offensive lineman Andrew Stueber from the practice squad to the game-day roster. Sokol made his season debut last week, logging no targets in 10 offensive snaps in Henry’s absence. If Stueber takes a snap, it will be his first as a Patriot.
Meanwhile, the Bills activated DaQuan Jones from injured reserve, bringing the starting defensive tackle back to the roster after he missed 10 games with a torn pectoral muscle.
Jones reinforces a defensive front that is without Jordan Phillips, who was placed on injured reserve last week after having wrist surgery. Jones started the first five games of the season before getting hurt in the Bills’ loss against the Jaguars in London Oct. 8, compiling 10 tackles and 2½ sacks.
In corresponding moves, the Bills signed offensive tackle Germain Ifedi back to the practice squad, and released safety Tre Norwood. Ifedi was waived Friday to make room for Jones on the 53-man roster.
(Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.)
Nicole Yang can be reached at [email protected] her @nicolecyang.
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