MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The New England Patriots will be without top pass-rusher Trey Flowers for the second game in a row, as the club ruled him out for Monday night’s road game against the Miami Dolphins due to a rib injury.

Flowers, who has a team-high six sacks and 19 quarterback hits, injured his ribs in the third quarter of the team’s win over the Dolphins on Nov. 26. He had been limited in practice all week and previously was one of 11 players listed as questionable on the injury report.

With Flowers out, as well as top linebacker Kyle Van Noy (calf), the Patriots are thin at the end of the line of scrimmage. First-year player Eric Lee, signed off the Buffalo Bills' practice squad on Nov. 21, figures to again play a significant role. Fourth-round draft choice Deatrich Wise Jr. also is on the depth chart, but he has a foot injury and is officially questionable for Monday's game.

Last week the team played linebacker Marquis Flowers at the end of the line, the first time he had ever filled that type of role in his career. Linebacker Jonathan Freeny, signed on Wednesday, also has experience at that spot. The return of Trevor Reilly, who missed last week's game with a concussion, could also help at that spot.

In addition to Trey Flowers, the Patriots ruled out core special-teams player Brandon King (hamstring) and fourth-string running back Mike Gillislee (illness) on Sunday; Gillislee had been a healthy scratch the last four games. They join starting right tackle Marcus Cannon (ankle) and Van Noy as those already declared inactive.

The Patriots will have to declare two more players inactive by 90 minutes before Monday’s kickoff.

Wide receiver Chris Hogan, who made the trip with the Patriots to South Florida, is expected to make his return from a right shoulder injury that has sidelined him the last four games. Running back Dion Lewis (illness) also is expected to play.