What happened: New England ruled out starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker with a hamstring injury and starting right guard Ben Brown with a knee injury. Walter Rouse will start on the left and Matt Pryor on the right. The shuffle replaces both guard spots ahead of Thursday's game.

Why it matters: Losing both starting guards at once tests interior protection on a short week. Pryor signed Oct. 1 and now steps directly into the right side. Rouse moves inside after competing at right guard last month.

What to watch: Thursday's game offers the first look at the new pairing under game conditions. Vera-Tucker's and Brown's recoveries determine how long the replacements remain in place.