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Five takeaways from Patriots’ 42-10 preseason loss to the Giants
Several Patriots players, like Javon Baker and Andy Borregales, didn’t exactly make their case for a roster spot.
The NFL regular season is finally upon us.
Mike Vrabel and the Patriots opted to rest a majority of their starters on Thursday, opening the door for several second and third-string players to try and fight for a roster spot at MetLife Stadium.
The results left a lot to be desired on both sides of the ball, with the Patriots’ backups ultimately dropping a 42-10 loss to the Giants.
Here are five takeaways from Thursday’s preseason finale:
A barren roster
As is often the case when it comes to the final game of preseason action, Vrabel opted to rest multiple starters on New England’s roster ahead of the Patriots’ matchup against New York.
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But, Thursday was a particularly barren depth chart for New England, with the Patriots’ offensive starters featuring QB Ben Wooldridge, RB JaMycal Hasty, FB Jack Westover, WR John Jiles, WR Javon Baker, and TE Cole Fotheringham at skill positions.
Woof.
In total, the only Patriots players who logged snaps on Thursday who could conceivably earn starting reps in Week 1 were DE Keion White, S Jabrill Peppers, S Craig Woodson, CB Alex Austin, G/CJared Wilson, C Ben Brown and potentially S Kyle Dugger.
There won’t be any sweeping statements drawn from a game where New England rested a majority of its top players.
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Still, a game like this offered a prime opportunity for multiple players on the roster bubble to try and stake their claim for a spot on the 53-man squad.
The results among that crop of talent left a lot to be desired in a blowout defeat.
Kyle Dugger makes the most of his reps
Dugger once again was playing in the second half alongside multiple players who are likely headed toward waivers and/or the practice squad.
But the 29-year-old veteran — much like fellow veteran Anfernee Simons last week against the Vikings — was very noticeable with his heavy snap count during preseason action on Thursday.
Dugger in particular strung together a strong series in the second quarter — negating a pair of deep throws from Giants QB Jameis Winston with some sound positioning in the open field. He capped off that series by reeling in an interception off a miscommunication from Winston, with Dugger’s pick setting the stage for 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive for the Patriots.
The case can be made that Dugger’s heavy reps were a chance for New England to showcase Dugger in a potential trade — with his drop down the depth chart more a matter of fit and scheme, rather than production.
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But speaking ahead of Thursday’s game, Vrabel did not take the bait when asked about the possibility of the team trading players like Dugger and Jennings.
“I don’t know, you reported a lot of things that may not have been true,” Vrabel told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Scott Zolak in a pregame interview about said trade rumors. “So I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the reports that go around. You know that better than anybody.”
They haven’t dropped as much as Dugger and Jennings, but it’s also worth noting that both Jabrill Peppers and Keion White were also logging some snaps in the second quarter.
Javon Baker can’t seize his opportunity
It looks as though New England already has six wide receivers who are locked into a roster spot between Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III.
The case could be made that second-year wideout Javon Baker also warranted a spot, given both his special-teams contributions and his ability to serve as more of a deep-threat, boundary receiver.
But, with plenty of snaps on offense available, Baker didn’t necessarily move the needle at MetLife Stadium.
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Yes, Baker once again made a strong play on special teams Thursday. On a punt return, it was Baker who blocked one of the Giants’ players into the returner on a punt — which led to the ball hitting off a Giants player for a fumble. That led to New England regaining the ball in the red zone en route to an eventual field goal from Andy Borregales.
But, if Baker wants to make New England’s roster, he’s also going to have to post some production on the offensive side of the ball. And on Thursday, Baker once again left a lot to be desired. He finished with zero catches off of two targets while getting whistled for an offensive pass interference in the third quarter.
Just not good enough from the talented, but frustrating, wideout.
Borregales lets another chance slip by him
If rookie Andy Borregales was going to leapfrog veteran John Parker Romo in the ongoing battle for the starting kicker role, he was going to need to put his best foot forward on Thursday.
It looked as though Vrabel gave the 2025 sixth-round pick a chance to build some momentum in the first quarter. Instead of opting to run another play on a 4th and 1 chance from New York’s 31-yard line, Vrabel called on Borregales for a 49-yard field goal.
The rookie’s attempt sailed wide right, further distancing him from Romo in this head-to-head competition. Borregales later connected on a 30-yard field goal, but it’s been pretty clear that Romo has been the far better option so far this summer.
Odds and ends
If Ben Wooldridge was going to somehow make a push to overtake Joshua Dobbs for New England’s backup spot, he was going to have to dominate on Thursday as New England’s starting QB. The 25-year-old QB had a nice 10-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Webb in the second quarter, but it was still a pretty uneven night for Wooldridge — who was knocked for a pick-six and completed just 10-of-20 passes. A spot on the practice squad might be in the cards for the QB.
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While Ben Brown and Jared Wilson once again started on the interior at left guard and center on Thursday, it’s looking like both Cole Strange and Caedan Wallace are on the outside looking in at the roster. Strange was both overpowered and had some poor snaps to Wooldridge in his reps at center, while Wallace was repping with players like Jack Conley, Tyrese Robinson, and Demontrey Jacobs well into the fourth quarter.
Beyond his touchdown grab in the second quarter, Webb also gained some chunk yardage with a few promising returns on special teams. It’s not a certainty that he’ll earn a roster spot, but he could be a useful add on the practice squad.
It wasn’t a good night for New England’s crop of backup cornerbacks, as 2025 seventh-round pick Kobee Minor was shredded in coverage for most of the night — while Jordan Polk was whistled for a pair of defensive holding penalties that negated a fumble and a pass breakup on fourth down.
The Patriots’ next game will be in Week 1 of the regular season, with New England set to host the Raiders at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7.
LIVE UPDATES
10:37: Yes, it’s a lot of backups for New England. But this has been a poor showing against New York’s backups.
It’s now 42-10.
10:23: It hasn’t been the best showing from Wooldridge tonight. He attempts to hit Jaheim Bell — but his throw is behind and it leads to a pick-six.
It’s 35-10 Giants.
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10:18: It’s now 28-10 Giants. A screen pass for Jonathan Ward leads to a 41-yard touchdown for New York. Vrabel and Co. might want to burn the tape on that sequence.
10:02: Tommy Devito strikes. The QB hits Thomas Fidone for a touchdown.
It’s 21-10 Giants near the midway point of the third quarter.
9:57: Despite that interception, Kyle Dugger remains in the game in the second half.
9:57: A Javon Baker pass interference call is not good for his roster odds.
9:31: Patriots TOUCHDOWN.
Wooldridge hits Jeremiah Webb on a fade for a touchdown over CB Dee Williams for a 10-yard touchdown. PAT from Borregales is good.
It’s a 14-10 game.
That was a 14-play, 80-yard drive from Wooldrige.
9:20: Really strong showing from Kyle Dugger on this drive in the second quarter. After breaking out a few deep throws, he reels in an interception in the end zone. A good sight for a veteran who is trying to make the roster.
9:06: Patriots add 3 points off a field goal from Borregales, who gets another shot after missing from 49 earlier.
Wooldridge with a throw behind Baker in the red zone.
9:00: Javon Baker does bounce back with a good special teams play. The wideout blocking one of the Giants’ players into the returner on a punt — which led to the ball hitting off a Giants player for a fumble. Patriots recover and are in the red zone.
8:59: Javon Baker knocked for a drop there. Not good.
8:55: End First: Giants up, 14-0.
Cole Strange now in at center. Caedan Wallace comes in at left guard.
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8:52: Touchdown, Giants.
Jameis Winston comes in and throws a 30-yard touchdown to Jalin Hyatt. Kobee Minor in coverage on that score.
14-0 New York.
8:45: Nice play from Marte Mapu to break out that completion. Good to see from a player trying to earn a roster spot.
8:41: Uh oh. Borregales misses from 49. Not what you want to see from a player stuck in a kicker battle with John Parker Romo.
8:37: Jeremiah Webb has a nice gain off the punt return. It looked like he had a chance to break through for a touchdown.
8:29: Another punt for New England’s offense. Wooldridge with a few passes batted down.
8:26: Some strong plays from Joshua Farmer and Craig Woodson on defense during that Giants drive.
8:22: Wooldridge goes three-and-out.
8:18: Ben Wooldridge getting the start at QB. Jared Wilson starting at LG, Ben Brown at C.
8:16: Not a good showing from Miles Battle — who gets beaten on the slant by TE Greg Dulcich for the TD.
Touchdown Giants. 7-0 New York.
8:12: Revenge game by Gunner Olszewski?
8:05: Not a whole lot of lineup regulars out there tonight for New England.
7:32: Mike Vrabel bristles at a question from Scott Zolak about players like Dugger/Jennings on the trade block.
“I don’t know, you reported a lot of things that may not have been true, so I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the reports that go around. You know that better than anybody.”
7:31: As expected, plenty of backups going tonight for New England.
7:30: Vrabel with some kind words for third-string QB Ben Wooldridge.
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“Ben’s done what we’ve asked him to do, which is take the coaching…he’ll get a great opportunity tonight to go out there and be able to operate and run our offense. He’s done a nice job in the games.”
6:55: It looks as though there will be no Drake Maye reps tonight, as expected.
6:50: Based on the early sights in East Rutherford, it looks as though it’s primary backups warming up for New England — including Kyle Dugger.
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