Patriots
Efton Chism and TreVeyon Henderson are among the many high performers to date this summer season in Foxborough.
The Patriots’ preseason slate has lastly come to an finish.
Mike Vrabel and his workers now have the unenviable activity of slicing down New England’s roster to 53 gamers earlier than 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
However after three preseason video games and several other training-camp practices, there have been a couple of gamers on the Patriots’ roster who’ve raised their inventory — and discover themselves on the roster bubble.
Right here’s a take a look at one of the best and worst performers this preseason for New England.
STUDS
TreVeyon Henderson
Henderson is already wanting like essentially the most dynamic playmaker on New England’s roster. The 2025 second-round decide was anticipated to convey some worth in a supporting function this season given his pass-catching abilities and abilities as a bruising blocker.
However Henderson’s velocity and explosiveness has been placed on show throughout camp practices, joint classes, and preseason motion — be it his 100-yard kickoff return landing towards Washington or his eight-yard rating towards Minnesota the next week.
Henderson may very well be due for an enormous 12 months given his versatile skillset and 0-to-60 acceleration.
Efton Chism III
One other rookie who has turned heads this preseason, the undrafted standout out of Jap Washington has quieted loads of doubters after a sluggish begin to camp. The shifty slot receiver was arguably New England’s most dynamic pass-catcher in preseason motion — reeling in 12 catches off 14 targets for 121 yards and two touchdowns over two video games.
He may develop right into a dependable security blanket for Drake Maye in short-yardage conditions — particularly alongside one other slot wideout in DeMario Douglas.
Ok’Lavon Chaisson
The Patriots shouldn’t have any scarcity of impactful pass-rushers on their revamped protection — particularly with the return of Christian Barmore and the offseason additions of Harold Landry, Milton Williams, and others.
However Chaisson — who signed a one-year deal this offseason with the expectation of being extra of a situational pass-rusher — is looking like a potential starter alongside Landry based on practices this week.
After recording simply 5 sacks over his first 4 NFL seasons, Chaisson seems as if he may be placing all of it along with the Patriots as a dynamic athlete who can shut in on the quarterback briefly order.
Khyiris Tonga
One other underrated offseason pickup by New England, Tonga is wanting like New England’s beginning nostril sort out after a really sturdy summer season.
Regardless that gamers like Williams, Landry, and others may stuff the stat sheet with sacks this fall, a whole lot of that stress stands to be generated up the center by the 335-pound Tonga — who has frequently made life depressing for inside offensive linemen.
John Parker Romo
For now, it seems as if the veteran has received New England’s aggressive battle for the beginning kicker spot. Regardless of rookie Andy Borregales’ draft pedigree, Romo has been the higher choice to date this summer season — changing on over 90 p.c of his field-goal makes an attempt throughout practices whereas additionally booting a 57-yard subject purpose towards Washington.
Will Campbell
After a sluggish begin to camp when it got here to go safety, Campbell showcased loads of potential throughout his two preseason appearances towards Washington and Minnesota.
Getting into Week 3 of the preseason, Pro Football Focus noted that Campbell is the one offensive sort out to obtain a grade of 80 or increased in each go (80.1) and run blocking (87.6) to date throughout preseason motion. He nonetheless has some work to do in go safety, however Campbell seems like a mauler within the run sport who ought to have room to develop as New England’s de-facto left sort out.
Craig Woodson
The 2025 fourth-round decide opened up camp flying beneath the radar, particularly when in comparison with different rookies like Campbell, Henderson, and others. However the 24-year-old security out of Cal has impressed along with his athleticism and talent to cowl floor briefly order — even beginning alongside Jabrill Peppers throughout Thursday’s sport towards New York.
Alex Austin
Whereas damage issues linger over beginning corners Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis, Austin has alleviated a few of these woes by placing collectively a robust summer season.
After popping on the finish of the 2024 season, Austin has been regular this summer season as a protection nook — breaking apart a possible landing from Washington QB Sam Hartman on Aug. 8 earlier than solely giving up one catch on 4 targets towards Minnesota the next week.
DJ James
One other backup nook who has exceeded expectations this summer season, the previous Seahawks sixth-round draft decide has been a thorn within the facet of QBs as a dynamic ball hawk.
James, who has snagged a number of interceptions throughout red-zone drills in camp, additionally picked off a go throughout New England’s preseason victory over Washington. Each he and Austin may very well be referred to as upon this season if Gonzalez and Davis proceed to cope with accidents.
Ben Brown
After stepping in as New England’s beginning middle final season following David Andrews’ season-ending damage, Brown has as soon as once more served as a reliable participant within the inside of the Patriots’ O-line this summer season.
With rookie Jared Wilson going by some rising pains throughout preseason motion and Garrett Bradbury laboring at middle, Brown may very well be taking part in himself right into a beginning spot for Week 1.
Truman Jones
A former standout at Harvard, Jones has been one of many extra unheralded — however constant — gamers on the defensive position for New England. His greatest sport got here towards Washington, the place he recorded two QB pressures and several other run stuffs.
Elijah Ponder
Patriots exterior linebackers coach Mike Smith didn’t mince phrases when requested this week about Ponder — calling him “one of the best undrafted free agent pickups” he’s ever seen.
Ponder could also be pushed down the depth chart on a crew with a number of playmakers on the edge place.
However he’s persistently received battles in 1-on-1 matchups, whereas additionally touchdown some key blocks on particular groups that led to main returns for New England. He may carve out a task as an impactful special-teams stalwart alongside gamers like Brenden Schooler.
DUDS
Kyle Dugger
This one may be harsh, as a result of Dugger really recorded two interceptions this preseason — whereas additionally breaking apart two passes and recording six tackles on Thursday towards the Giants.
However no veteran on New England’s roster has seen his inventory drop so far as Dugger’s this summer season — with the previous beginning security demoted to the scout crew earlier this week whereas taking part in into the fourth quarter in video games towards the Vikings and Giants.
Dugger may nonetheless have one thing left within the tank, however the 29-year-old might not be one of the best match for Mike Vrabel and Terrell Williams’ revamped protection in New England.
Very like Dugger, Anfernee Jennings (three sacks towards Minnesota) is one other veteran whose slot in Vrabel’s scheme may result in him taking part in elsewhere — moderately than his total efficiency.
Javon Baker
Credit score to Baker for making an affect on particular groups this summer season — with the 2024 fourth-round decide touchdown some tackles towards Washington earlier than forcing a fumble towards the Giants after pushing a New York participant into the returner on a punt.
But when Baker needed to earn a spot in an already crowded Patriots wideout room, he was going to reel in some catches as effectively. That didn’t play out throughout preseason motion, with Baker knocked for a few drops whereas additionally getting whistled for a pair of penalties towards New York and Minnesota.
Even with Baker’s potential as a gunner on particular groups, that alone won’t be ok to warrant a roster spot.
Cole Unusual
As soon as seen because the odds-on favourite to start out at left guard this season, Unusual has been leapfrogged by each Jared Wilson and Ben Brown on the depth chart.
On Thursday, Unusual performed within the second half alongside different third-string gamers and didn’t do a lot to assist his case — giving up loads of stress on the within whereas additionally getting knocked for some botched snaps to Ben Wooldridge. The 2022 first-round decide may very well be on his approach out in New England.
Andy Borregales
Whereas Romo has made essentially the most of his alternative, the primary kicker taken within the 2025 NFL Draft in Borregales did not capitalize in essential conditions.
After lacking a 57-yard subject purpose towards Minnesota final week (partly a results of a poor snap from Julian Ashby), Borrigales was unable to transform a 49-yard subject purpose on Thursday towards the Giants.
Borregales transformed on 3-of-5 field-goal makes an attempt in the course of the preseason, and related on 85.7 p.c of his makes an attempt (42-of-49) throughout coaching camp, per MassLive’s Mark Daniels.
Borregales hasn’t been unplayable, nor ought to or not it’s a shock for rookie kickers to labor within the early going. Nonetheless, Romo has been the higher choice to date this summer season.
Keion White
Whereas Chiasson has seen his inventory soar throughout camp, White has seen his spot on New England’s depth chart slip a bit in current weeks. Pushed all the way down to the second-string protection this week, White additionally didn’t make a lot of an affect in Thursday’s preseason sport towards New York — while also earning extended snaps (30) on the night.
Ja’Lynn Polk
It’s wanting like one other misplaced season for the 2024 second-round decide, with Polk anticipated to overlook your entire 2025 season because of shoulder surgical procedure. That damage — suffered on a failed jet sweep towards the Commanders — might need saved Polk from getting reduce outright subsequent week, as he did not pop in the course of the early levels of camp.
Caedan Wallace
One other 2024 draft decide who has seen his inventory drop, Wallace hasn’t been capable of settle right into a groove at both sort out or guard on a Patriots crew that wants some depth on the line of scrimmage. It wasn’t signal that Wallace was taking part in effectively into the fourth quarter on Thursday alongside different offensive linemen which might be probably set to be reduce like Demontrey Jacobs.
Joshua Dobbs
There’s a compelling case to be made that each Dobbs and beginning QB Drake Maye haven’t been all that spectacular throughout their preseason reps.
Maye particularly was knocked for a poor turnover towards the Commanders that drew the ire of Mike Vrabel, with the franchise signal-caller ending the preseason going 7-of-12 in passing makes an attempt throughout preseason motion.
It wasn’t essentially the most bombastic displaying from Maye towards second and third-string gamers, however we’re not going to hit the panic button fairly but — particularly with Maye additionally displaying out in a number of aggressive joint practices with the Commanders and Vikings.
However Dobbs has been lots shakier as a passer, each throughout camp and particularly throughout a preseason sport towards Washington the place he missed Kyle Williams on a number of throws and accomplished simply 5 of his 12 go makes an attempt.
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