When the New England Patriots released their inactive list 90 minutes before Sunday’s kickoff against the Chicago Bears, one of the storylines was the return of KJ Osborn to the lineup. The free agency pickup, who was seen as a trade candidate before the deadline earlier this week, seemingly made the game-day roster as the fifth option on the depth chart.

However, he finished the game with the second-most snaps in his position group. Only Kayshon Boutte (62; 97%) was on the field more often than Osborn (29; 45%).

His increase in opportunities after playing just 31 total snaps in the previous five games came at the expense of Kendrick Bourne. Typically the Patriots’ starting Z receiver, the veteran ultimately didn’t play a single second despite his spot on the game-day roster.

After the game, head coach Jerod Mayo claimed that “a lot” went into the decision to have Bourne play effectively against the Bears.

“Every time we put the active roster together, we thought it was the best we could do to give us the best chance to win,” he explained. “All those guys bring a certain skill set to the game. We just didn’t know who would play more; it just played like that.

Since returning from the physically unable to perform list in early October, Bourne has steadily increased his workload. The last three games before Sunday, he averaged just under 48 snaps per game as one of New England’s starting wideouts.

On Sunday, after some up-and-down play the previous weeks, that number plummeted to zero. And yet you wouldn’t know it to watch Bourne interact with his teammates: he was his usual cheerful self and showed the leadership the team craves.

“Even though Bourne didn’t play today, he was the first one to smile when I walked into the locker room, and I always appreciated that, just his energy and excitement,” Mayo said. “Same goes for KJ and the rest of those guys. Sometimes even when they’re inactive, just the excitement for their teammates.”

What’s going on with Bourne? On Sunday, the team reportedly prioritized using its younger talent at wide receiver; Ja’Lynn Polk also played 26 snaps (41%) at the position as another Z-type wideout. Of course, that doesn’t explain why 27-year-old Osborn suddenly seems to have overtaken 29-year-old Bourne in depth.

Until concrete answers come next week, either from the team or from player usage, the answer will remain in limbo.

Here’s our full report on the Patriots’ 19-3 win over the Bears.

Offence

Total snaps: 64 | Time on field: 31:26

QB Drake Maye (64; 100%), LT Vederian Lowe (64; 100%), LG Michael Jordan (64; 100%), C Ben Brown (64; 100%), RG Michael Onwenu (64; 100%), RT Demontrey Jacobs (64; 100%), WR Kayshon Boutte (62; 97%), TE Hunter Henry (57; 89%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (45; 70%), TE Austin Hooper (41, 64%), WR KJ Osborn (29; 45%), WR DeMario Douglas (27; 42%), WR Ja’Lynn Polk (26; 41%), RB JaMycal Hasty (12; 19%), RB Antonio Gibson (7; 11%), OL/TE/FB Sidy Sow (6; 9%), WR Javon Baker (4; 6%), TE Jaheim Bell (2; 3%), TE Mitchell Wilcox (1; 2%), OL/TE Layden Robinson (1; 2%)

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The Patriots provided some stability along their offensive line, starting the Vederian Lowe-Michael Jordan-Ben Brown-Michael Onwenu-Demontrey Jacobs group for the third time this season after Weeks 6 and 8. The only lineup combination to start more than one game over the overall good, even if there’s no telling what the team’s coaching staff will do once Cole Strange returns from the PUP list.

Elsewhere, the Patriots leaned heavily on a two-tight end zone. While Hunter Henry played his usual high number of snaps, Austin Hooper was on the field for a season-best 41 snaps (64%). He also had his most productive day as a receiver, gaining 64 yards on three catches.

At running back, meanwhile, Rhamondre Stevenson continues to carry the load. JaMycal Hasty, meanwhile, appears to have surpassed Antonio Gibson – whose workload continued to decline to a season-low seven – as the second option at the position.

Defense

Total snaps: 60 | Time on field: 26:07

LB Jahlani Tavai (60; 100%), CB Christian Gonzalez (60; 100%), ED Anfernee Jennings (56; 93%), DE/ED Keion White (54; 90%), CB/S Jonathan Jones (52; 87%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (49; 82%), DT Daniel Ekuale (41; 68%), CB Marcus Jones (39; 65%), S Dell Pettus (38; 63%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (35; 58%), DT Davon Godchaux (29; 48%), DE/ED Deatrich Wise Jr. (28; 47%), LB Sione Takitaki (28; 47%), CB Marco Wilson (24; 40%), S Marte Mapu (24; 40%), CB Jesaja Bolden (12; 20%), LB Joe Giles -Harris (8; 13%), DT Jaquelin Roy (7; 12%), LB Curtis Jacobs (6; 10%), S Brenden Schooler (5; 8%), ED Ochaun Mathis (5; 8%)

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The Brenden Schooler-led “Longhorn” package was a natural attention grabber during and after the game, but the special core teamer was on the field just five times that day. However, he made the most of it and ended up with his first career sack.

At the other end of the playing time spectrum are the usually suspect players. Players like Jahlani Tavai, Christian Gonzalez and Anfernee Jennings continue to play heavy workloads above 90 percent. That group on Sunday — for the first time in his career — also included sophomore defensive lineman Keion White; With Tavai once again focusing primarily on off-ball duties, he was the main lead opposite Jennings.

Another player who saw an increase in opportunities was Jonathan Jones. The veteran lined up across the formation against the Bears’ three-receiver sets, with his increase in safety snaps being the most notable development: Jones’ ability to wear multiple hats, combined with Marco Wilson looking solid at No. 4 cornerback option, allows the team to move him where it suits best.

Against the Bears, that was at safety. With Kyle Dugger out, he joined a rotation consisting of Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus and Marte Mapu – the latter playing a lower-than-normal percentage of snaps. Whether that was the result of a game plan or limiting exposure is unknown, but the second-year DB was able to participate in the game on a limited basis with a neck injury.

Davon Godchaux also did not play his usual high number of snaps. The defensive tackle finished with a lower snap number than both Daniel Ekuale and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. Why? The fact that the Bears had to play catch-up probably played a role in that.

Special teams

Total snaps: 27 | Time on field: 2:27

S Brenden Schooler (22; 81%), ED Ochaun Mathis (22; 81%), LB Joe Giles-Harris (19; 70%), LB Curtis Jacobs (17; 63%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (16; 59% ), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (16; 59%), LB Jahlani Tavai (13; 48%), S Dell Pettus (13; 48%), TE Jaheim Bell (11; 41%), TE Mitchell Wilcox (11; 41%), CB Isaiah Bolden (11; 41%), P/H Bryce Baringer (11; 41%), LS Joe Cardona (11; 41%), DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (10; 37%), K Joey Slye (10; 37%), LB Sione Takitaki (9; 33%); CB/PR Marcus Jones (8; 30%), CB Marco Wilson (8; 30%), TE Austin Hooper (6; 22%), C Ben Brown (5; 19%), OT Demontrey Jacobs (5; 19% ) ), G Michael Jordan (5; 19%), G Michael Onwenu (5; 19%), OL Sidy Sow (5; 19%), WR/KR Javon Baker (5; 19%), DT Daniel Ekuale (5 ; 19%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (5; 19%), OL Lecitus Smith (5; 19%), RB JaMycal Hasty (4; 15%), RB/KR Antonio Gibson (2; 7%), CB Jonathan Jones (1; 4%), S Marte Mapu (1; 4%)

New England’s special teams operation saw some change on Sunday, with two areas in particular standing out.

The first is the kickoff return task. While both of Chicago’s kickoffs ended as touchbacks, the return lineup looked different: Javon Baker was joined by Antonio Gibson as the two players lined up at the return spots; JaMycal Hasty previously held that role.

Additionally, the Patriots had to replace Raekwon McMillan after the special core teamer was released on Friday. To fill his role, Joe Giles-Harris was removed from the practice squad as a default. He appears to be a potential candidate to be signed to the active roster once his only remaining opportunity for a raise is taken.

Didn’t play

QB Jacoby Brissett, WR Kendrick Bourne

In addition to the aforementioned Kendrick Bourne, the Patriots also kept backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett on the sideline for the entire game. The former starter still leads the team in QB snaps for a total of 10 weeks, but that will change in the next two weeks.

Inactive

S Kyle Dugger, LB Christian Elliss, DT Eric Johnson, QB Joe Milton III, ED Yannick Ngakoue, OL Tyrese Robinson, WR Tyquan Thornton

Sunday’s Patriots inactive list may have included some notable names, but there were no real surprises. Kyle Dugger (ankle) and Christian Elliss (abdomen) were both ruled out with injuries, Yannick Ngakoue was claimed off waivers less than 48 hours before kickoff, and the other inactives were all healthy scratches at the bottom of the roster.