I’m going to be in Boston and Newburyport for a wedding this, and, unfortunately, won’t be able to watch the Pats play tomorrow night, but Week 1 of the preseason starts tomorrow. Sounds like starters are going to get some decent action.
NFL GameDay Official Preseason Week 1 watch thread.
- Thread starter Kontradiction
- Start date
GameDay Discussion
Thursday Night games:
Patriots @ Panthers
Lions @ Giants
Falcons @ Dolphins
Texans @ Stealers
Excited for this GDT tomorrow. Will be glued to the entire game. Monitor the others for injuries.
Patriots @ Panthers
Lions @ Giants
Falcons @ Dolphins
Texans @ Stealers
Excited for this GDT tomorrow. Will be glued to the entire game. Monitor the others for injuries.
Jerod Mayo admitted he will be excited Thursday night, his first time on the familiar sideline of Gillette Stadium as a head coach.
Sure, he knows it’s just an exhibition game, the first of three preseason matchups the New England Patriots have before the regular-season opener in Cincinnati next month. But it’s still his first game as a head coach.
Mayo also recognized that this kind of game is more about the players, especially the ones looking for playing time or on the roster bubble.
So before the Patriots host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, here are eight players to watch in the game.
More importantly, it’s a great opportunity for him to showcase the athleticism and big-play ability that have been on the back burner during training camp.
While it’s fair to say he’s struggled a bit, the Patriots defense has been trying to limit big plays, force him to read the opposing scheme and take checkdowns. The red jersey he wears prevents the defense from hitting him, largely mitigating his ability to scramble.
That changes Thursday night, and it’s a big chance to put some early camp hiccups behind him.
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1819882943755493587
But Thursday, he’s likely to get a lot of playing time. Mayo said he wants to have the team’s front five mostly solidified after the second preseason game, so time is dwindling for Wallace to earn a starting job, and he needs a good showing against the Panthers.
But Baker has also been prone to silly mistakes and a few drops. Now, people within the organization are keen to see how he takes their coaching points from the practice field to a game. He doesn’t need to come down with several receptions for Thursday to be a success, but a big-time downfield catch would make for a nice moment — and would continue to vault him up the depth chart.
Kevin Harris will probably get the most opportunities, but look for Ja’Mycal Hasty to get a few carries. The Pats could use one of them to definitively win that competition.
It’s OK if he struggles against the run. The Patriots know where his strengths lie. They just want to see him get after the quarterback Thursday night.
His training camp has been pretty good, but he’s boxed out of a top-three job behind Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones. That said, those three have all battled injuries in the last year, so the No. 4 cornerback job is still an important one. Right now, it’s Austin’s job to lose.
Still, the O-line is far from set. The Patriots have consistently used different rotations during training camp — mainly at the tackle spots — so Lowe will still need to play well to keep this job. But he enters Thursday ahead of Wallace on the depth chart and with a big opportunity ahead of him.
His issues have been staying healthy and transferring his success to the game field. Thursday, he needs to avoid injury and keep playing the way he has in recent weeks. Thornton was limited at practice Tuesday with what he called a soft-tissue issue, though, so it’s unclear whether he’ll even play against the Panthers.
Sure, he knows it’s just an exhibition game, the first of three preseason matchups the New England Patriots have before the regular-season opener in Cincinnati next month. But it’s still his first game as a head coach.
Mayo also recognized that this kind of game is more about the players, especially the ones looking for playing time or on the roster bubble.
So before the Patriots host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, here are eight players to watch in the game.
QB Drake Maye
Let’s start with the obvious one. Maye is going to get his first (preseason) NFL snaps Thursday. And it’ll be extra meaningful for him against the Panthers, the team he grew up watching and rooting for.More importantly, it’s a great opportunity for him to showcase the athleticism and big-play ability that have been on the back burner during training camp.
While it’s fair to say he’s struggled a bit, the Patriots defense has been trying to limit big plays, force him to read the opposing scheme and take checkdowns. The red jersey he wears prevents the defense from hitting him, largely mitigating his ability to scramble.
That changes Thursday night, and it’s a big chance to put some early camp hiccups behind him.
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1819882943755493587
OT Caedan Wallace
Even with Chukwuma Okorafor sidelined for recent practices (don’t expect him to play Thursday night), Wallace, the team’s third-round rookie, has still been with the second-team offense.But Thursday, he’s likely to get a lot of playing time. Mayo said he wants to have the team’s front five mostly solidified after the second preseason game, so time is dwindling for Wallace to earn a starting job, and he needs a good showing against the Panthers.
WR Javon Baker
The rookie hasn’t been the team’s most reliable wide receiver, but he has made the most explosive plays. And for a team that ranked at the bottom of the NFL in big plays a year ago, that has been a much-needed boost.But Baker has also been prone to silly mistakes and a few drops. Now, people within the organization are keen to see how he takes their coaching points from the practice field to a game. He doesn’t need to come down with several receptions for Thursday to be a success, but a big-time downfield catch would make for a nice moment — and would continue to vault him up the depth chart.
Running backs
No need to spotlight just one running back when there are so many who could use a good game. Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson probably won’t play much, but the competition behind them for the No. 3 job is wide open.Kevin Harris will probably get the most opportunities, but look for Ja’Mycal Hasty to get a few carries. The Pats could use one of them to definitively win that competition.
DT Daniel Ekuale
He has been a little quieter in camp than you’d like for someone who is suddenly a starter along the defensive line. With Christian Barmore out indefinitely, Ekuale will take on the role most similar to Barmore’s, ideally getting after the passer from the interior.It’s OK if he struggles against the run. The Patriots know where his strengths lie. They just want to see him get after the quarterback Thursday night.
CB Alex Austin
He quietly played well enough at the end of last season to turn some heads on the coaching staff. Now they want to see whether that was a fluke or whether Austin can become a reliable NFL cornerback.His training camp has been pretty good, but he’s boxed out of a top-three job behind Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones. That said, those three have all battled injuries in the last year, so the No. 4 cornerback job is still an important one. Right now, it’s Austin’s job to lose.
OT Vederian Lowe
On the flip side of Wallace, Lowe has been the main beneficiary of Okorafor’s injury and has been the first-string left tackle in the last few practices.Still, the O-line is far from set. The Patriots have consistently used different rotations during training camp — mainly at the tackle spots — so Lowe will still need to play well to keep this job. But he enters Thursday ahead of Wallace on the depth chart and with a big opportunity ahead of him.
WR Tyquan Thornton
The former second-round pick has had the best training camp of his pro career, but we’re still a long way from Week 1. The issue for Thornton was never how he looked in seven-on-seven or full-team drills in late July.His issues have been staying healthy and transferring his success to the game field. Thursday, he needs to avoid injury and keep playing the way he has in recent weeks. Thornton was limited at practice Tuesday with what he called a soft-tissue issue, though, so it’s unclear whether he’ll even play against the Panthers.
The New England Patriots are 10 practices into training camp and have their final session Tuesday before the preseason begins Thursday against the Carolina Panthers. It seems like a good time to reflect on where each player stands.
Monday, we offered one thought on every offensive player. Now we’re shifting to the defense.
DL Matthew Judon: He’s present at practice, but he’s still not super enthused about his contract status — even if he insists he’ll continue to play. He wants a new deal. And the guess here is that the sides will come to an agreement in the next week that makes Judon a bit happier.
DL Deatrich Wise Jr.: Now 30 years old, Wise’s peak is probably behind him. But he is still a good fit for this versatile defense in which he can line up in several spots.
DL Christian Barmore: The team’s star interior pass rusher seemed poised for a monster year to build on his big second half a year ago. But his struggles with blood clots have him out indefinitely and mean he might miss the entire season, which is what happened to David Andrews in 2019.
DL Keion White: He looks the part and checks every box. The second-year man had a good camp a year ago, too, but outside of a few flash plays, it didn’t translate to games. We’ll see this year if White carries over his success from camp.
DL Davon Godchaux: The Patriots gave him a new deal that essentially guarantees the run stopper will remain on the team for two years. I get the philosophy of keeping culture fits during this rebuild, but that was a lot of money (they guaranteed more than $16 million over two years) to give a defensive tackle who doesn’t really rush the passer and is entering his age-30 season. I probably would’ve let him play out the year on his previous deal.
DL Josh Uche: On the flip side, I’m buying stock in Uche as he enters this one-year deal hoping to cash in next offseason. His speed rush is great, and he’s been so quick off the line in camp.
DT Daniel Ekuale: An injury cut short his 2023 season, but he’s probably the one in line for the biggest boost in playing time with Barmore out.
DT Armon Watts: He has transformed his game a bit, going from a pass rusher to a run stopper, and so far he has been a bit underwhelming.
DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr.: He’s not a great athlete, which limits his upside and pass rushing. But the Pats need depth in the interior, so Pharms will probably nab a roster spot.
DT Sam Roberts: The power rush is his best move, but he lacks the speed to be more than a rotational piece on the defensive line.
OLB Anfernee Jennings: Jennings has one job — stopping the run — and he’s pretty darned good at it. He can get exposed on play action, but he’ll be a valuable piece against run-first offenses.
OLB Oshane Ximines: The Pats just signed Ximines, and he has practiced only twice so far, but he has played in 48 career games and shown upside as a pass rusher.
DL John Morgan: At 6 feet 1, 252 pounds, Morgan is undersized and doesn’t have an obvious position on the defensive line. But this defense has a good track record (admittedly, with Bill Belichick running the show) of developing that kind of player.
DT William Bradley-King: Like Morgan, Bradley-King is undersized but a good athlete, which makes him an interesting candidate to stash on the practice squad.
DT Mike Purcell: Another recent free-agent signing, Purcell comes with loads of experience (he has played more than 2,500 NFL snaps), and the Pats are giving him a chance to see if there’s anything left in the 33-year-old’s tank. It’s a worthwhile flier.
DT Trysten Hill: A good combine performance in 2019 helped make Hill a second-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys. But he’s never found consistent playing time, and the Pats are hoping a change of scenery might help him.
DT Josiah Bronson: He was with four NFL teams (mostly on the practice squad) before landing in the USFL last year. His chance at a roster spot is slim.
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley: Expectations are massive for Bentley, who coach Jerod Mayo thinks can become one of the best linebackers in the league.
LB Jahlani Tavai: His contract extension was another one that surprised me given teams are typically reluctant to invest as much as the Patriots have in their linebackers. Still, he has been arguably Belichick’s second-best free-agent signing of the past five years.
LB Sione Takitaki: Eliot Wolf brought him to New England after being impressed by him in Cleveland, but Takitaki hasn’t seen the field in camp because of a knee injury, a less-than-ideal start to his time with the franchise.
LB Raekwon McMillan: Tavai praised McMillan as an unheralded leader of the group, but so far the on-field production has been just OK.
LB Marte Mapu: It’s been a disappointing start to camp for Mapu. The team wanted to see a big jump from him in Year 2. Instead, he’s been sidelined with an injury.
LB Christian Elliss: Special teams will be key in Elliss’ path to a roster spot, so the preseason snaps will be important for him.
LB Joe Giles-Harris: He doesn’t move well, which gets him into trouble in pass coverage, so he’ll have to be good at stopping the run to carve out a role.
LB Steele Chambers: Aside from having a great name for a linebacker, Chambers could be a nice special teams addition after thriving there at Ohio State. He went undrafted, and the Pats claimed him off waivers in June after the Detroit Lions cut him.
CB Christian Gonzalez: The 22-year-old is looking to prove his three-plus games as a rookie were no fluke, but there have been a couple of rough practices in the past week. It’s probably not a major concern, but he hasn’t dominated.
CB Jonathan Jones: He’s as steady as it gets for the Patriots, and his position versatility is a nice boost for Mayo and the defense.
CB Marcus Jones: Health is the most important factor for Jones, but he’s ready for a big season as a returner and nickel corner. I also forgot how feisty he is: He is routinely one of the first defensive backs to mix it up with receivers in camp.
CB Alex Austin: He played well in a short stint last season, and his straight-line speed makes him good against deep threats. But Austin can get tripped up working against more agile receivers or in the red zone.
CB Marco Wilson: It has been a good camp for Wilson, one of the best athletes on the team who has gotten some run with the starting defense in the past week.
CB Isaiah Bolden: The Patriots love the idea of Bolden as a special teams ace, but coaches want to see if he can show enough as a depth corner to stick on the roster.
CB Shaun Wade: Wade has made the team for three straight years despite other players occasionally appearing higher on the depth chart. Don’t count him out yet.
CB Marcellas Dial: He’s undersized, which occasionally shows up in camp, but incredibly fast. The Pats have given him a ton of snaps to see how quickly he can learn.
CB Mikey Victor: The undrafted free agent is kind of the opposite of Dial — he has good size but doesn’t run as well as you’d want for an outside corner.
CB Azizi Hearn: His nice coverage on a deep pass to Jalen Reagor last week led to an interception, and he’s making a good case for a spot on the practice squad.
S Kyle Dugger: Somehow, it seems like Dugger’s always in the right spot and around the ball. It’ll be fun to see how creative this new staff gets in deploying him.
S Jabrill Peppers: If Judon is disgruntled, Peppers — an old-school, physical defensive back who can play all over the field — might be the heart and soul of the defense. He’s a good chess piece for Mayo.
S Jaylinn Hawkins: He’s more in the mold of a true deep safety, which the Patriots lack, but his tackling can be an issue.
S Joshuah Bledsoe: A recent injury has sidelined Bledsoe and opened the door for younger safeties to show what they can do. Which leads us to …
S Dell Pettus: So far, the Troy grad might be the best chance for an undrafted rookie to make the team. He’s undersized at 5 feet 10, but he plays angry and has been a pleasant surprise.
S Brendan Schooler: Everyone knows he’s a special teams ace. But Mayo has been working him in more with the defense, hoping he might contribute as a depth safety too.
S A.J. Thomas: As the team has battled injuries at safety, the Pats signed Thomas last week. He last played in the UFL and was arguably the top safety in the league.
P Bryce Baringer: Look for a big year from Baringer, who had a successful rookie season. He can crush the ball but needs to improve his consistency.
Monday, we offered one thought on every offensive player. Now we’re shifting to the defense.
DL Matthew Judon: He’s present at practice, but he’s still not super enthused about his contract status — even if he insists he’ll continue to play. He wants a new deal. And the guess here is that the sides will come to an agreement in the next week that makes Judon a bit happier.
DL Deatrich Wise Jr.: Now 30 years old, Wise’s peak is probably behind him. But he is still a good fit for this versatile defense in which he can line up in several spots.
DL Christian Barmore: The team’s star interior pass rusher seemed poised for a monster year to build on his big second half a year ago. But his struggles with blood clots have him out indefinitely and mean he might miss the entire season, which is what happened to David Andrews in 2019.
DL Keion White: He looks the part and checks every box. The second-year man had a good camp a year ago, too, but outside of a few flash plays, it didn’t translate to games. We’ll see this year if White carries over his success from camp.
DL Davon Godchaux: The Patriots gave him a new deal that essentially guarantees the run stopper will remain on the team for two years. I get the philosophy of keeping culture fits during this rebuild, but that was a lot of money (they guaranteed more than $16 million over two years) to give a defensive tackle who doesn’t really rush the passer and is entering his age-30 season. I probably would’ve let him play out the year on his previous deal.
DL Josh Uche: On the flip side, I’m buying stock in Uche as he enters this one-year deal hoping to cash in next offseason. His speed rush is great, and he’s been so quick off the line in camp.
DT Daniel Ekuale: An injury cut short his 2023 season, but he’s probably the one in line for the biggest boost in playing time with Barmore out.
DT Armon Watts: He has transformed his game a bit, going from a pass rusher to a run stopper, and so far he has been a bit underwhelming.
DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr.: He’s not a great athlete, which limits his upside and pass rushing. But the Pats need depth in the interior, so Pharms will probably nab a roster spot.
DT Sam Roberts: The power rush is his best move, but he lacks the speed to be more than a rotational piece on the defensive line.
OLB Anfernee Jennings: Jennings has one job — stopping the run — and he’s pretty darned good at it. He can get exposed on play action, but he’ll be a valuable piece against run-first offenses.
OLB Oshane Ximines: The Pats just signed Ximines, and he has practiced only twice so far, but he has played in 48 career games and shown upside as a pass rusher.
DL John Morgan: At 6 feet 1, 252 pounds, Morgan is undersized and doesn’t have an obvious position on the defensive line. But this defense has a good track record (admittedly, with Bill Belichick running the show) of developing that kind of player.
DT William Bradley-King: Like Morgan, Bradley-King is undersized but a good athlete, which makes him an interesting candidate to stash on the practice squad.
DT Mike Purcell: Another recent free-agent signing, Purcell comes with loads of experience (he has played more than 2,500 NFL snaps), and the Pats are giving him a chance to see if there’s anything left in the 33-year-old’s tank. It’s a worthwhile flier.
DT Trysten Hill: A good combine performance in 2019 helped make Hill a second-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys. But he’s never found consistent playing time, and the Pats are hoping a change of scenery might help him.
DT Josiah Bronson: He was with four NFL teams (mostly on the practice squad) before landing in the USFL last year. His chance at a roster spot is slim.
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley: Expectations are massive for Bentley, who coach Jerod Mayo thinks can become one of the best linebackers in the league.
LB Jahlani Tavai: His contract extension was another one that surprised me given teams are typically reluctant to invest as much as the Patriots have in their linebackers. Still, he has been arguably Belichick’s second-best free-agent signing of the past five years.
LB Sione Takitaki: Eliot Wolf brought him to New England after being impressed by him in Cleveland, but Takitaki hasn’t seen the field in camp because of a knee injury, a less-than-ideal start to his time with the franchise.
LB Raekwon McMillan: Tavai praised McMillan as an unheralded leader of the group, but so far the on-field production has been just OK.
LB Marte Mapu: It’s been a disappointing start to camp for Mapu. The team wanted to see a big jump from him in Year 2. Instead, he’s been sidelined with an injury.
LB Christian Elliss: Special teams will be key in Elliss’ path to a roster spot, so the preseason snaps will be important for him.
LB Joe Giles-Harris: He doesn’t move well, which gets him into trouble in pass coverage, so he’ll have to be good at stopping the run to carve out a role.
LB Steele Chambers: Aside from having a great name for a linebacker, Chambers could be a nice special teams addition after thriving there at Ohio State. He went undrafted, and the Pats claimed him off waivers in June after the Detroit Lions cut him.
CB Christian Gonzalez: The 22-year-old is looking to prove his three-plus games as a rookie were no fluke, but there have been a couple of rough practices in the past week. It’s probably not a major concern, but he hasn’t dominated.
CB Jonathan Jones: He’s as steady as it gets for the Patriots, and his position versatility is a nice boost for Mayo and the defense.
CB Marcus Jones: Health is the most important factor for Jones, but he’s ready for a big season as a returner and nickel corner. I also forgot how feisty he is: He is routinely one of the first defensive backs to mix it up with receivers in camp.
CB Alex Austin: He played well in a short stint last season, and his straight-line speed makes him good against deep threats. But Austin can get tripped up working against more agile receivers or in the red zone.
CB Marco Wilson: It has been a good camp for Wilson, one of the best athletes on the team who has gotten some run with the starting defense in the past week.
CB Isaiah Bolden: The Patriots love the idea of Bolden as a special teams ace, but coaches want to see if he can show enough as a depth corner to stick on the roster.
CB Shaun Wade: Wade has made the team for three straight years despite other players occasionally appearing higher on the depth chart. Don’t count him out yet.
CB Marcellas Dial: He’s undersized, which occasionally shows up in camp, but incredibly fast. The Pats have given him a ton of snaps to see how quickly he can learn.
CB Mikey Victor: The undrafted free agent is kind of the opposite of Dial — he has good size but doesn’t run as well as you’d want for an outside corner.
CB Azizi Hearn: His nice coverage on a deep pass to Jalen Reagor last week led to an interception, and he’s making a good case for a spot on the practice squad.
S Kyle Dugger: Somehow, it seems like Dugger’s always in the right spot and around the ball. It’ll be fun to see how creative this new staff gets in deploying him.
S Jabrill Peppers: If Judon is disgruntled, Peppers — an old-school, physical defensive back who can play all over the field — might be the heart and soul of the defense. He’s a good chess piece for Mayo.
S Jaylinn Hawkins: He’s more in the mold of a true deep safety, which the Patriots lack, but his tackling can be an issue.
S Joshuah Bledsoe: A recent injury has sidelined Bledsoe and opened the door for younger safeties to show what they can do. Which leads us to …
S Dell Pettus: So far, the Troy grad might be the best chance for an undrafted rookie to make the team. He’s undersized at 5 feet 10, but he plays angry and has been a pleasant surprise.
S Brendan Schooler: Everyone knows he’s a special teams ace. But Mayo has been working him in more with the defense, hoping he might contribute as a depth safety too.
S A.J. Thomas: As the team has battled injuries at safety, the Pats signed Thomas last week. He last played in the UFL and was arguably the top safety in the league.
P Bryce Baringer: Look for a big year from Baringer, who had a successful rookie season. He can crush the ball but needs to improve his consistency.
The New England Patriots are entering their third week of training camp with the first preseason game looming.
After nine practices, we’re starting to get a picture of how things look. With that in mind, let’s offer one thought on every player in camp. Monday, we’ll look at the offense. Tuesday, we’ll tackle the defense.
QB Jacoby Brissett: Two words: as advertised. He was brought here because the Pats believed he was a capable starting quarterback for this offense and would be a selfless mentor to their rookie. He has checked both boxes.
QB Drake Maye: Maye has had some rough practices, but his ceiling is still super high, a few mishaps in his first training camp be damned. The 21-year-old bounced back nicely from his struggles with a couple of solid practices at the end of last week and should get plenty of snaps Thursday against the Carolina Panthers, the team he grew up watching.
QB Joe Milton: The sixth-round pick has been better than I expected, and his highlight plays are incredible. He has one of the strongest arms in the NFL, but the gap between him and Brissett/Maye is still quite large.
QB Bailey Zappe: It’s hard not to feel for the guy. He went from being the starter to getting limited training camp snaps, needing to use these preseason games as an audition for his next team.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: He’s the best skill-position player the Patriots have on offense, and it’s not particularly close. Jerod Mayo plans to give him the ball a ton this season.
RB Antonio Gibson: The team’s depth at running back isn’t great, but Gibson is dynamic out of the backfield and could be the kind of true, third-down receiving back the Pats have lacked in recent years.
RB Kevin Harris: There’s a battle for the No. 3 job, and I’d give Harris the nod. Mayo praised him last week and said he was an offseason award winner.
RB JaMycal Hasty: These will be important preseason games for Hasty, who has impressed with his shiftiness and will get plenty of chances to make the roster.
RB Terrell Jennings: His lack of speed is apparent, but he could still get 20 preseason carries. Those will be important to show if he can play faster in games.
TE Hunter Henry: He has been a frequent target of Brissett’s in the red zone and should continue to provide plenty of value there even if his blocking in this scheme has left something to be desired.
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1819779379871850608
TE Austin Hooper: The free-agent addition has been impressive in camp and is carving out a nice role as the No. 2 tight end in an offense that should frequently use multiple tight ends.
TE Jaheim Bell: Coaches think he has a high upside, but he hasn’t practiced much. We’re still in wait-and-see mode.
TE Mitchell Wilcox: He has had more drops than you’d like to see, but he also gets a lot of targets, hinting that he’s running good routes.
TE La’Michael Pettway: He has mostly seen time with the third-string offense, but he has made plays when given the chance.
TE Jacob Warren: At 6 feet 5 and more than 250 pounds, Warren has the size to develop into a blocking tight end, which this team needs.
WR Kendrick Bourne: He hasn’t practiced yet, as he’s rehabbing from last year’s ACL tear. When he does, I’ll be curious to see if the injury has hurt his speed, especially considering that was already a weakness.
WR K.J. Osborn: We haven’t seen anything too flashy yet from Osborn, though Saturday’s practice was his best of camp. He’s steady and a willing run blocker, but he hasn’t been winning many contested catches, which you’d like to see from someone on this team.
WR Demario Douglas: By this point, we know how dynamic he is. The issue at his size is staying on the field. He has worn a red, no-contact jersey at camp, already battling an injury. If he plays 14 or more games this season, that’s probably a win, and he’ll have a good chance at leading the team in receiving yards.
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1819488091867877839
WR Ja’Lynn Polk: For a team launching a rebuild, Polk got the highest of compliments from Mayo: “He’s the kind of guy you want to build around.”
WR Javon Baker: His good is really good. But his mistakes can be silly. Still, he could be one of the team’s top three receivers if he has a good preseason showing.
WR Jalen Reagor: The longer camp goes, the more I think the Pats need a roster spot for Reagor because of how good he is on kickoffs.
WR Tyquan Thornton: He still needs to prove he can stay healthy, but with added size, Thornton looks like he’s trending toward the best season of his career — even if the expectations of 2022 are a thing of the past.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: He said this summer that his struggles last year were only because of injury. But it’s been a rough start to camp for him, and his roster spot is in doubt.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster made just 29 catches for 260 yards last season for the Patriots. (Eric Canha / USA Today)
WR Kayshon Boutte: The LSU grad is probably on the wrong side of the roster bubble at this point and hasn’t done enough to pass Thornton and Reagor.
WR JaQuae Jackson: He’s a bit slender and hasn’t been able to box out corners on contested catches.
WR Kawaan Baker: He struggles underneath and lacks shiftiness but has the straight-line speed to be the kind of player the Pats stash on the practice squad and try to develop as a deep threat.
WR David Wallis: There haven’t been enough standout moments, but he can try to use the preseason games as an audition for a practice squad spot somewhere.
OT Chukwuma Okorafor: An injury kept him out of Saturday’s practice, but when healthy, his spot as a starter is locked up. It’s just a matter of whether he plays left or right tackle.
OT Caedan Wallace: Mayo said he wants to have the team’s starting five set after the second preseason game, and the biggest question is whether Wallace is good enough in those two exhibitions to lock up the spot opposite Okorafor.
LG Sidy Sow: Sow has been the second-best offensive lineman in camp, a good sign as he enters Year 2.
C David Andrews: His peak is behind him, but you know you’ll get solid play up the middle, which is helpful when eventually working in a rookie quarterback.
RG Mike Onwenu: He’s been the best offensive lineman, and it’s not particularly close. That said, I struggle to understand why he’s playing right guard and not right tackle.
OT Calvin Anderson: It’s easy to root for Anderson after malaria wiped out his 2023 season, and he has already impressed coaches by playing through a minor injury in camp.
OT Vederian Lowe: New England is trying a bunch of options at left tackle, and Lowe has been the most recent recipient of starting reps. A big opportunity awaits in the preseason games.
OT Kellen Diesch: The new signee has had only one practice, but the Patriots like his athletic profile (he ran a sub-5-second 40-yard dash) in this zone rushing scheme.
OT Zuri Henry: The undrafted rookie is trying to land on the practice squad, but it could be an uphill battle.
G Cole Strange: The 2022 first-round pick has been at practice even though his knee injury has kept him from participating. He’ll miss the start of the season.
G Layden Robinson: Here’s another reason I question keeping Onwenu at right guard: It blocks Robinson from playing time, especially when you consider Strange will come back at some point. And Robinson has been good enough to deserve snaps.
G Michael Jordan: The veteran adds some depth to the group and furthers the case for Onwenu playing tackle.
G/C: Atonio Mafi: His move from guard to center (while Andrews has been out) hasn’t gone well, with several botched snaps. The team needs him to fix that; otherwise, it might have to look for center depth elsewhere.
C Jake Andrews: After not really playing last year, Andrews has been on the physically unable to perform list all camp. He needs all the reps he can get, which makes this undisclosed injury unfortunate.
C Nick Leverett: He has been one of the pleasant surprises of camp. With him at center, the first-team offense hasn’t missed a beat without Andrews.
G Liam Fornadel: He came to the Patriots after playing well in the XFL but has been limited to third-team work.
G Charles Turner III: The undrafted free agent is undersized but moves well (a plus for this scheme) and would be a nice stash on the practice squad.
K Chad Ryland: He has been the better of the two kickers and will probably get the roster spot with a chance to bounce back from his rookie struggles.
K Joey Slye: The veteran just hasn’t been consistent enough to push Ryland for the starting job.
After nine practices, we’re starting to get a picture of how things look. With that in mind, let’s offer one thought on every player in camp. Monday, we’ll look at the offense. Tuesday, we’ll tackle the defense.
QB Jacoby Brissett: Two words: as advertised. He was brought here because the Pats believed he was a capable starting quarterback for this offense and would be a selfless mentor to their rookie. He has checked both boxes.
QB Drake Maye: Maye has had some rough practices, but his ceiling is still super high, a few mishaps in his first training camp be damned. The 21-year-old bounced back nicely from his struggles with a couple of solid practices at the end of last week and should get plenty of snaps Thursday against the Carolina Panthers, the team he grew up watching.
QB Joe Milton: The sixth-round pick has been better than I expected, and his highlight plays are incredible. He has one of the strongest arms in the NFL, but the gap between him and Brissett/Maye is still quite large.
QB Bailey Zappe: It’s hard not to feel for the guy. He went from being the starter to getting limited training camp snaps, needing to use these preseason games as an audition for his next team.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: He’s the best skill-position player the Patriots have on offense, and it’s not particularly close. Jerod Mayo plans to give him the ball a ton this season.
RB Antonio Gibson: The team’s depth at running back isn’t great, but Gibson is dynamic out of the backfield and could be the kind of true, third-down receiving back the Pats have lacked in recent years.
RB Kevin Harris: There’s a battle for the No. 3 job, and I’d give Harris the nod. Mayo praised him last week and said he was an offseason award winner.
RB JaMycal Hasty: These will be important preseason games for Hasty, who has impressed with his shiftiness and will get plenty of chances to make the roster.
RB Terrell Jennings: His lack of speed is apparent, but he could still get 20 preseason carries. Those will be important to show if he can play faster in games.
TE Hunter Henry: He has been a frequent target of Brissett’s in the red zone and should continue to provide plenty of value there even if his blocking in this scheme has left something to be desired.
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1819779379871850608
TE Austin Hooper: The free-agent addition has been impressive in camp and is carving out a nice role as the No. 2 tight end in an offense that should frequently use multiple tight ends.
TE Jaheim Bell: Coaches think he has a high upside, but he hasn’t practiced much. We’re still in wait-and-see mode.
TE Mitchell Wilcox: He has had more drops than you’d like to see, but he also gets a lot of targets, hinting that he’s running good routes.
TE La’Michael Pettway: He has mostly seen time with the third-string offense, but he has made plays when given the chance.
TE Jacob Warren: At 6 feet 5 and more than 250 pounds, Warren has the size to develop into a blocking tight end, which this team needs.
WR Kendrick Bourne: He hasn’t practiced yet, as he’s rehabbing from last year’s ACL tear. When he does, I’ll be curious to see if the injury has hurt his speed, especially considering that was already a weakness.
WR K.J. Osborn: We haven’t seen anything too flashy yet from Osborn, though Saturday’s practice was his best of camp. He’s steady and a willing run blocker, but he hasn’t been winning many contested catches, which you’d like to see from someone on this team.
WR Demario Douglas: By this point, we know how dynamic he is. The issue at his size is staying on the field. He has worn a red, no-contact jersey at camp, already battling an injury. If he plays 14 or more games this season, that’s probably a win, and he’ll have a good chance at leading the team in receiving yards.
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1819488091867877839
WR Ja’Lynn Polk: For a team launching a rebuild, Polk got the highest of compliments from Mayo: “He’s the kind of guy you want to build around.”
WR Javon Baker: His good is really good. But his mistakes can be silly. Still, he could be one of the team’s top three receivers if he has a good preseason showing.
WR Jalen Reagor: The longer camp goes, the more I think the Pats need a roster spot for Reagor because of how good he is on kickoffs.
WR Tyquan Thornton: He still needs to prove he can stay healthy, but with added size, Thornton looks like he’s trending toward the best season of his career — even if the expectations of 2022 are a thing of the past.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: He said this summer that his struggles last year were only because of injury. But it’s been a rough start to camp for him, and his roster spot is in doubt.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster made just 29 catches for 260 yards last season for the Patriots. (Eric Canha / USA Today)
WR Kayshon Boutte: The LSU grad is probably on the wrong side of the roster bubble at this point and hasn’t done enough to pass Thornton and Reagor.
WR JaQuae Jackson: He’s a bit slender and hasn’t been able to box out corners on contested catches.
WR Kawaan Baker: He struggles underneath and lacks shiftiness but has the straight-line speed to be the kind of player the Pats stash on the practice squad and try to develop as a deep threat.
WR David Wallis: There haven’t been enough standout moments, but he can try to use the preseason games as an audition for a practice squad spot somewhere.
OT Chukwuma Okorafor: An injury kept him out of Saturday’s practice, but when healthy, his spot as a starter is locked up. It’s just a matter of whether he plays left or right tackle.
OT Caedan Wallace: Mayo said he wants to have the team’s starting five set after the second preseason game, and the biggest question is whether Wallace is good enough in those two exhibitions to lock up the spot opposite Okorafor.
LG Sidy Sow: Sow has been the second-best offensive lineman in camp, a good sign as he enters Year 2.
C David Andrews: His peak is behind him, but you know you’ll get solid play up the middle, which is helpful when eventually working in a rookie quarterback.
RG Mike Onwenu: He’s been the best offensive lineman, and it’s not particularly close. That said, I struggle to understand why he’s playing right guard and not right tackle.
OT Calvin Anderson: It’s easy to root for Anderson after malaria wiped out his 2023 season, and he has already impressed coaches by playing through a minor injury in camp.
OT Vederian Lowe: New England is trying a bunch of options at left tackle, and Lowe has been the most recent recipient of starting reps. A big opportunity awaits in the preseason games.
OT Kellen Diesch: The new signee has had only one practice, but the Patriots like his athletic profile (he ran a sub-5-second 40-yard dash) in this zone rushing scheme.
OT Zuri Henry: The undrafted rookie is trying to land on the practice squad, but it could be an uphill battle.
G Cole Strange: The 2022 first-round pick has been at practice even though his knee injury has kept him from participating. He’ll miss the start of the season.
G Layden Robinson: Here’s another reason I question keeping Onwenu at right guard: It blocks Robinson from playing time, especially when you consider Strange will come back at some point. And Robinson has been good enough to deserve snaps.
G Michael Jordan: The veteran adds some depth to the group and furthers the case for Onwenu playing tackle.
G/C: Atonio Mafi: His move from guard to center (while Andrews has been out) hasn’t gone well, with several botched snaps. The team needs him to fix that; otherwise, it might have to look for center depth elsewhere.
C Jake Andrews: After not really playing last year, Andrews has been on the physically unable to perform list all camp. He needs all the reps he can get, which makes this undisclosed injury unfortunate.
C Nick Leverett: He has been one of the pleasant surprises of camp. With him at center, the first-team offense hasn’t missed a beat without Andrews.
G Liam Fornadel: He came to the Patriots after playing well in the XFL but has been limited to third-team work.
G Charles Turner III: The undrafted free agent is undersized but moves well (a plus for this scheme) and would be a nice stash on the practice squad.
K Chad Ryland: He has been the better of the two kickers and will probably get the roster spot with a chance to bounce back from his rookie struggles.
K Joey Slye: The veteran just hasn’t been consistent enough to push Ryland for the starting job.
That sucks!! Hope they get it fixed for you!!day 2.5 with no power here. driving around to charge phone. even my data working is spotty. probably can't watch.
