Josh

Barrett

Backup safety Josh Barrett will replace Chung against Buffalo’s No. 1 scoring offense, and the loss of Haynesworth will create some depth issues along an already depleted defensive line. All together, this presents a slight upgrade for Bills skill position players in a game that was already projected to be a shootout.

It’s a little blow to the Patriots’ pass defense. Barrett was coming on as an asset next to Patrick Chung, making four starts this season. Former undrafted free agent Sergio Brown is the next man up.

The Patriots are giving up an average of 6.2 completions of 20-plus yards per game, and the second-worst Cardinals are well behind them at 5.0 such plays per game. Mike Wallace was our No. 1 WR play before this news, with Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders looking like solid bye week WR3s.

Both are listed as questionable. Mayo sprained his MCL against the Raiders on October 2 and missed the last two games. Vollmer has been inactive for five of the Patriots’ last six contests with a back injury. Josh Barrett (thumb) did not travel with the team and has been downgraded to “out.”

Ventrone is constantly waived and re-signed by the Patriots, and might be back during the season. Barrett was a special teamer with no value on defense.

Barrett, who started the last three games as a rookie, won’t keep this job. The club invested the 48th and 114th picks on Darcel McBath and David Bruton to back up Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill. Barrett is looking at a fifth safety role.

The deal included a $56,300 signing bonus. Barrett’s deal was originally reported as being for three years, but on the four-year pact he’ll have a playing time escalator available in the final season.

Barrett can run in a straight line and hit, but has stiff hips and couldn’t beat out Hamza Abdullah. He’s a prime practice squad candidate.