The New England Patriots are set to take on the New York Jets in Week 8, but will do so without a few of their rookie starters on Sunday afternoon.

Wideout Ja’Lynn Polk and guard Layden Robinson were ruled out 48 hours before New England and New York went head-to-head at Gillette Stadium. Polk, 22, entered the concussion protocol after exiting the Patriots’ recent loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars while Robinson, 23, too, made an early departure with an ankle injury.

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo took the majority spotlight from the team the days leading up to kick-off after referring to the team as “soft.” Everyone from Bill Belichick to Tom Brady to Richard Sherman chimed on Mayo’s controversial jab at his own locker room; which also took away attention from the surge of rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who threw for 276 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Mayo has single-handedly created New England’s first major locker room distraction since taking over and debuting at the helm this season, all while the franchise has stooped to new all-time lows in the process.

The Patriots are riding a six-game losing streak. They haven’t won since slipping past the injury-riddled Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 and have quickly made themselves the league’s strongest case for tanking for the rest of the campaign — the same position New England found itself in amid Belichick’s farewell run with the team.

Kick-off from Gillette Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

New England’s full injury report can be found here:

OUT
WR Ja’Lynn Polk
G Layden Robinson

QUESTIONABLE
DT Daniel Ekuale
CB Jonathan Jones
G Michael Jordan
T Vederian Lowe
LB Raekwon McMillan
OL Sidy Soy
LB Sione Takitaki
DE Keion White

New York listed safety Ashtyn Davis (concussion), defensive tackle Leki Fotu (knee) and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) as out.