Here’s who stood out, struggled in preseason opener

FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots seemed dominant of their preseason-opening win in opposition to the Commanders.

The offense had nearly no hassle shifting the ball, putting up 48 points for the primary time in a very long time.

The protection held its personal, and a pair of younger defensive backs compelled turnovers.

On particular groups, New England’s return recreation stood out with a 100-yard kick return and a prolonged punt return.

Drake Maye didn’t play a lot, however he scored a landing and dedicated a turnover.

Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at who stood out, each positively and negatively, throughout this recreation.

Top off

RB TreVeyon Henderson

Henderson didn’t take lengthy to indicate off his great pace. The rookie working again took the primary contact of his NFL profession 100 yards into the endzone for a rating on a kick return.

Credit score to tight-end Austin Hooper for springing Henderson with a bodily lead block. The Patriots as a crew created a gaping gap for Henderson to run by means of, and he rewarded his blockers by slipping previous an open-field tackler and profitable the footrace down the sideline.

His solely carry of the sport went for 18 yards, and that’s completely nice. He confirmed lots in a restricted period of time.

CB DJ James

James continued his spectacular run this summer season with an early interception.

He broke in entrance of Commanders receiver Michael Gallup on a comeback, taking benefit of some hesitant steps from his opponent.

The 2024 sixth-round choose spent final season on the follow squad and was unheralded coming into camp, however he has risen up the depth chart and earned some alternatives with Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis battling accidents.

James made the primary interception of coaching camp and the primary interception of the preseason video games. Sturdy begin for the younger nook.

Undrafted rookie Jordan Polk additionally made an impression, hauling in a tipped go for an interception.

DE Truman Jones

Jones and Milton Williams created the stress off the sting that led to James’s interception.

The Harvard alum and former Ivy League defensive participant of the yr has been standing out in follow lately, and Friday was a continuation of that.

He was all around the discipline, making 4 tackles.

WR Efton Chism

Chism was the Patriots’ main receiver on this recreation with six catches for 50 yards, together with a 12-yard catch from Ben Wooldridge.

No different Patriots receiver had a couple of catch heading into the fourth quarter, so it was Chism’s night time so far as that place went.

Working backs Henderson and Lan Larrison had a number of catches, however it was a sluggish night time for New England’s pass-catchers.

Manufacturing can be key because the underrated rookie tries to hold on with the crew. He added worth tonight.

RB Antonio Gibson

After Henderson opened the sport with a kick-return landing, Gibson broke off a 51-yard punt return, setting the Patriots up with high quality discipline place on a drive that led to a rating.

He completed with 26 yards on six carries, and with Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson forward of him on the depth chart, the extra methods Gibson can present his effectiveness, the higher.

Stevenson was stable, averaging 5.1 yards per carry with 36 yards on six touches and no fumbles.

Okay John Parker Romo

The Patriots’ kicker competitors has been tight. John Parker Romo and Andy Borregales have each been good.

When it’s tight, you will have to have the ability to benefit from robust alternatives that would separate you from the competitors.

Romo did that within the second quarter, nailing a 57-yard discipline objective with room to spare.

Borregales made his kick, too, however a 57-yarder goes to get extra consideration than a 22-yarder.

Inventory flat

OT Will Campbell

There weren’t a ton of passing alternatives for the first-teamers, and in the end, Campbell’s capacity to guard Drake Maye’s blind facet is what actually issues when evaluating him.

However, so far as the run recreation goes, Campbell was efficient. He pulled across the edge and made a pleasant downfield block on a defensive again to assist spring Henderson on his 18-yard carry. He appeared to have extra wins than losses general.

Maye was sacked as soon as, and it seemed like rookies Campbell and Jared Wilson received their wires crossed, however it appeared extra like a Wilson challenge than a Campbell challenge.

Certainly one of Campbell’s extra iffy reps in go safety truly resulted in a landing. His rusher tried a pace rush to the surface and Campbell was type of sluggish to get his arms prolonged, however Maye neatly stepped up and stored the ball himself, scampering in for a redzone landing.

OG Jared Wilson

The excellent news is that Wilson did sufficient in coaching camp to overhaul Cole Unusual at left guard and nothing unhealthy sufficient occurred on Friday night time to alter that.

The Patriots’ working recreation was efficient, and the passing recreation was uneventful through the starters’ time in there. That’s typically a great factor for offensive linemen. Washington wasn’t in a position to create a lot havoc.

Wilson and Campbell had been concerned in a play that resulted in Maye getting sacked and dropping a fumble. Jer’Zhan Newton had a step on Wilson, and Will Campbell ended up pushing the participant he was blocking into Wilson.

Newton sprinted previous whereas Campbell had his again turned and slammed into Maye, forcing a fumble. It appeared to me that Campbell had his man dealt with and Wilson wanted to do a greater job on his.

Tough play, however general not a foul efficiency from the rookie.

WR Kyle Williams

It was a tough begin for the promising rookie. He was focused 4 instances and completed with no catches.

The primary miss wasn’t his fault. He created separation from his defender on a fast slant that most likely ought to have been his first NFL landing, however Josh Dobbs’ throw was excessive and a bit behind the speedy rookie. Williams reached for it with one hand, however couldn’t haul it in.

He had a drop on a brief try from Wooldridge and there was a deep shot to him that just about received picked off.

Williams appeared to get open a number of instances, however for no matter purpose, that didn’t translate into manufacturing tonight.

Inventory down

QB Drake Maye

Maye has been stellar throughout coaching camp, and he didn’t play a lot tonight, so seeing him within the inventory down class shouldn’t alarm.

However, in his restricted motion, he managed to have a turnover.

Sure, miscommunication between his rookie linemen allowed a pair of Commanders to get proper at him, however as an alternative of taking place and taking the sack when he was hit, Maye tried to make a play and wound up dropping a fumble.

Coach Mike Vrabel referred to as it a poor choice, and Maye’s manufacturing through the restricted snaps wasn’t actually sufficient to maintain him off of this a part of the listing.

Fumbles are nothing new for Maye throughout this preseason. He and his facilities have had points getting their snaps proper. His decision-making within the go recreation has typically been fairly sound in follow, however tipped passes have resulted in some unhealthy bounces which have damage him.

Maye rushed for a landing and accomplished most of his passes, however committing a turnover in such a brief pattern measurement was not a welcome sight.

OG Cole Unusual

Unusual, who entered camp because the starter at proper guard, appeared because the second-string proper guard.

So, to this point, the previous first-round been overtaken by a rookie and moved round a number of instances by the teaching employees. Unusual has taken snaps at heart and left guard throughout camp, and now has added proper guard to his plate throughout this recreation.

It doesn’t seem like an excellent signal when the teaching employees demotes a participant and retains shifting him round, making an attempt to determine the place they’re going to place him.

ST Brenden Schooler

Schooler had the one penalty of the primary half, a holding name on a punt-return block.

That is, admittedly, a fairly nitpicky inventory down choose as there was so much to love throughout this blowout win and the error wasn’t a backbreaker.

However, penalties, particularly ones on particular groups, can damage. The Patriots had been practically flawless by way of avoiding penalties, and that’s the larger story than Schooler’s five-yarder.

Nonetheless, it occurred. Simply pointing it out.

Khari A. Thompson

Sports activities Reporter

Khari Thompson covers skilled sports activities for Boston.com. Earlier than becoming a member of the crew in 2022, Khari lined faculty soccer for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.