Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
7 Patriots players on roster bubble with plenty at stake in preseason finale
Javon Baker, Kyle Dugger, and other Patriots could be playing for a roster spot on Thursday.
The writing is on the wall that Drake Maye and many other Patriots starters may not suit up for New England’s preseason finale against the Giants Thursday night.
But, that doesn’t mean that several other players on New England’s roster won’t have anything to play for during Thursday’s matchup at MetLife Stadium.
With NFL teams needing to cut their roster down to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, there will be several Patriots looking to play themselves off of the roster bubble against the Giants.
Here are seven players worth watching during the Patriots’ final game of the preseason.
WR Javon Baker
After Efton Chism posted six catches and a touchdown during Saturday’s preseason win against the Vikings, it looks as though the undrafted wideout has earned a spot on New England’s 53-man roster.
Advertisement:
With Chism in place, that makes six wideouts who are likely considered roster locks for Week 1, including Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins.
But, could New England open the season with seven pass-catchers? It might depend on how a second-year pro in Baker fares on Thursday.
Despite not practicing on both Monday and Tuesday, Baker traveled with the Patriots to New Jersey — which could signal that he will play Thursday, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Baker’s profile as a boundary receiver who can also contribute on special teams could boost his value, with Mike Vrabel praising the wideout’s willingness to buy in and contribute in ways beyond just reeling in catches.
Advertisement:
But, after failing to record a catch on his first six targets on Saturday — coupled with a false-start penalty that hindered New England in the red zone — Baker will need to end his preseason slate on a high note to justify a spot on the 53-man roster.
RB JaMycal Hasty
Running back is looking like an area of strength in New England — especially with rookie TreVeyon Henderson looking like a potential breakout candidate alongside Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson.
But could New England prioritize depth at that position and opt for a fourth running back? Hasty is likely the next man up on the depth chart, with the 28-year-old back rushing for 47 yards off 11 attempts on Saturday against the Vikings.
C/G Cole Strange
As Ben Brown continues to see his stock rise as New England’s potential starting center or left guard, it’s looking like Strange is on the brink of losing a spot on New England’s roster.
The 2022 first-round pick has the versatility to play both at left guard and center, but his performance so far during training camp and preseason action has been very uneven. Beyond a strong showing on Thursday against New York, Strange’s spot on New England’s roster might depend on how the players ahead of him on the depth chart fare moving forward.
Advertisement:
If rookie Jared Wilson continues to struggle, Strange could be retained as a contingency plan for an offensive line with plenty of question marks.
Strange won’t be the only offensive lineman looking to solidify a roster spot on Thursday. He’s likely competing with other interior linemen in Caedan Wallace and Sidy Sow for one roster spot. New England also has to identify another swing tackle beyond rookie Marcus Bryant — which might come down to either Demontrey Jacobs or Vederian Lowe.
K Andy Borregales
The ongoing kicker battle between rookie Andy Borregales and John Parker Romo could be the top thing to watch on Thursday might.
While Borregales might have a higher ceiling than Romo, it’s clear that Romo has had the better summer so far.
Per MassLive’s Mark Daniels, Romo has made 90.1 percent of his field-goal attempts (38-of-42), while Borregales is operating at 85.7 percent of his field goals (42-of-49) so far this summer.
With Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer acknowledging earlier this month that Borregales’ draft status (sixth round, 2025 NFL Draft) won’t hold weight over who wins the kicker battle, the rookie will need a strong performance on Thursday (and a miss or two from Romo) to take a starting spot outright.
S Kyle Dugger
No player has seen his stock plummet more than Dugger over the last few months, with the former stalwart in New England’s secondary looking like a potential cut or trade candidate in the final days of the preseason.
Advertisement:
Despite defensive coordinator Terrell Williams noting on Tuesday that Dugger still has a fit on New England’s roster, the fact that the 29-year-old safety has primarily repped with New England’s second team or scout team in recent days is not a good sign.
Dugger did record an interception that sealed New England’s 20-12 win over Minnesota on Saturday.
But again, it didn’t bode well that the safety was playing in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. Dugger could still hold value as an athletic, run-stuffing safety — but his play style may not fit in with what Vrabel and Williams are looking to build on their revamped defensive unit.
Perhaps that sentiment changes if Dugger dominates on Thursday night.
EDGE Anfernee Jennings
Much like Dugger, it’s not looking good that a veteran in Jennings was still on the field in the closing minutes of Saturday’s win in Minnesota. But, Jennings has not let his precarious spot on the roster bubble hinder his performance on the field — he racked up three sacks against the Vikings.
With Jennings, it might be more fit than performance when it comes to his limited snaps on Vrabel and Williams’ defense. As trade rumors swirl around both Jennings and Dugger, a strong game on Thursday from the pass rusher could validate another team choosing to take Jennings off New England’s hands — especially if it leads to a greater role moving forward.
S/LB Marte Mapu
The fourth linebacker spot on New England’s roster could be up for grabs after projected roster locks in Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, and Jack Gibbens. Jahlani Tavai seems to be the odds-on favorite right now, but he has also been very limited since the start of camp with a lingering injury.
Advertisement:
A player like Mapu could potentially leapfrog Tavai if he closes the preseason on a high note, with the safety/linebacker hybrid potentially offering value to Vrabel and Williams as a mobile and athletic player who can also contribute on special teams. But so far, the 2023 third-round pick hasn’t inspired much confidence this summer.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com