🏈 Projected Starters & Key Player Status — Super Bowl LX

New England Patriots (AFC Champions)

📍 Offense

• QB Drake Maye — Starting Quarterback: Fully cleared and expected to play; no injury designation on the final report. Maye dealt with a shoulder issue and an illness earlier in the week but practiced fully late in the week.

• RB Rhamondre Stevenson — Lead back and key rushing threat all season (no injury news).

• WRs/TEs — Patriots receivers and tight ends expected to play at full strength, including key contributors who impacted the AFC Championship.

📍 Defense

• LB Harold Landry III — Listed as questionable with a knee injury and limited practice time late in the week; carry status could impact pass rush.

• LB Robert Spillane — Also questionable with an ankle injury; veteran defensive leader.

• DT Joshua Farmer — Listed questionable despite returning from injury and practicing fully.

• CB Christian Gonzalez — Fully expected to start; key cornerback who returned from hamstring injury earlier in the year and was productive in the AFC title game.

Notes:

• Patriots elevated two players from the practice squad — RB D’Ernest Johnson and DT Leonard Taylor III — for added depth on game day.

Seattle Seahawks (NFC Champions)

📍 Offense

• QB Sam Darnold — Starting quarterback expected to play; practiced fully despite managing a lingering oblique issue.

• WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba — Star wideout and one of the NFC’s top receivers; healthy and expected to be a focal point of the Seahawks’ offense.

• RB Kenneth Walker III — Lead running back, no injury designation and a key offensive weapon.

📍 Defense

• S Nick Emmanwori — Rookie defensive back listed with an ankle concern earlier in the week but returned to full practice and is expected to play.

• FB Robbie Ouzts — The only Seahawk still questionable due to a neck injury; final game-day active status may be determined closer to kickoff.

• T Josh Jones — Limited in practice with ankle/knee issues but expected to be available.

• T Charles Cross — Upgraded to full participation after earlier foot limitations.

💡 Injury / Availability Snapshot (Final Reports)

Patriots

• Drake Maye (QB) – Cleared to play; no designation.

• Harold Landry (LB) – Questionable (knee).

• Robert Spillane (LB) – Questionable (ankle).

• Joshua Farmer (DT) – Questionable despite full practice participation.

Seahawks

• Nick Emmanwori (S) – Good to go after full practice.

• Robbie Ouzts (FB) – Questionable (neck).

• Josh Jones (T) – Limited but available.

• Sam Darnold (QB) – No official designation, expected to play.

👀 Key Storylines to Weave Into Your Piece

🔥 Patriots’ Resilience

• Drake Maye’s backup to MVP conversations and shoulder recovery narrative adds drama to his first Super Bowl start.

• Patriots have largely healthy offensive skill players and a defense led by Landry and Spillane (question marks) that might be leaned on heavily come crunch time.

🌪️ Seahawks’ Balanced Threat

• Seattle’s offense features explosive talent in Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a now-healthy backfield anchored by Walker and Darnold’s steadiness.

• Defensive depth appears strong, with Emmanwori returning after an ankle scare and only a few depth roles in question.