What happened: New England downgraded rookie cornerback Channing Canada to out with a hamstring injury for Sunday's road game against Buffalo. Canada's primary work has come as a gunner and vice player on the Patriots' punt unit.

Why it matters: The change takes a core special-teams contributor off the board before a division matchup. It also sharpens the focus on Brenden Schooler, who is eligible to return next week and fills the same specialty for a Patriots team that entered Week 4 at 1-2.

What to watch: Sunday's inactives will show how New England redistributes Canada's special-teams snaps against Buffalo. The next roster checkpoint is whether Schooler is activated when he becomes eligible to return next week.