For the final week of the NFL regular season, the New England Patriots elected to utilize practice squad protections for the first time.
New England did so for wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson, tight end Matt LaCosse, defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale and safety Sean Davis, according to the NFL transaction wire.
The four protections, which mark the league’s weekly maximum under the 2020 collective bargaining agreement, will not be eligible to join another organization’s 53-man roster ahead of the finale. All four have either served as standard elevations or Covid-19 replacements this season for a 10-6 Patriots team that now stands with playoff berth.