Before the New England Patriots play a game, we will attempt to predict the team's inactive players.

Our best guess for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos:

DL Alan Branch: Perhaps he would be ready for a niche role, but after just two practices with the team and in a game with the Patriots needing more defensive backs, it might make sense to wait until after the bye.

CB Malcolm Butler: Rookie shows promising signs, and the Patriots want to be deep in the secondary, but something has to give somewhere on the game-day roster and they would still have five cornerbacks and six safeties on the game-day roster in this scenario.

OL Jordan Devey: First-year player was inactive last week as Dan Connolly returned to the lineup.

WR Aaron Dobson: With the top three on the depth chart locked in (Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola), Dobson is No. 4 or 5 on the depth chart with Brian Tyms. With Tyms showing a knack for the deep ball, he has earned the No. 4 role the past two weeks.

OL Cameron Fleming: The Patriots figure to dress seven linemen on game-day, and Fleming had been part of that mix early in the season before being sidelined with a finger injury after starting at right guard Sept. 29. Fleming is questionable for the game, so having a healthy Josh Kline in that reserve spot might make more sense.

DE Chandler Jones: Top pass-rusher has already been ruled out with a hip injury for the second week in a row.

RB James White: With the need for an extra defensive back based on the way the Broncos play, it could shave a fourth running back off the game-day roster.

Accountability check: A 4-for-7 effort for the Bears' game, with a notable miss on White, who was active for the second time this season as insurance behind running back Shane Vereen (playing despite an illness). The other notable miss was cornerback Alfonzo Dennard as a healthy scratch over rookie Malcolm Butler.