Joshua Uche was a surprising scratch when the New England Patriots took the field against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
Uche’s inactive designation in Week 8 marked the first time this season. It also coincided with trade deadline rumors involving the Patriots pass rusher, who signed a one-year deal last offseason and is set to hit the open market in March.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo deflected when asked if Uche’s designation had anything to do with the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
“It was just a healthy scratch,” Mayo told reporters Monday morning, per a team-provided video.