ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - The Bills will be without four starters when they travel to New England to play the Patriots in a key AFC East game on Sunday.

Starting right guard Brad Butler (left knee sprain), starting defensive end Aaron Schobel (foot), starting strong safety Donte Whitner (separated shoulder), No. 2 receiver Josh Reed (ankle) and nickel back Ashton Youboty (plantar fasciitis) have all been ruled out for Buffalo (5-3).

Whitner will be missing his first game since hurting his shoulder in last week's loss to the New York Jets. Schobel and Youboty have both missed four straight games, Butler will be sitting out his third, and Reed his second.

Bryan Scott will replace Whitner, while either rookies Reggie Corner or Leodis McKelvin will assume Youboty's slot in the secondary at New England (5-3).

Right guard Jason Whittle (back) and linebacker Kawika Mitchell (ankle) are both questionable after being limited in practice all this week. If Whittle can't play, Kirk Chambers would likely be his replacement.