EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It’s laborious to return to any significant conclusions after a 3rd and closing preseason sport, however Thursday evening’s 42-10 loss to the Giants may need proven some depth points on the Patriots’ roster.
Head coach Mike Vrabel stated the Patriots will “frequently attempt to strengthen” their roster in each means they’ll earlier than the beginning of the common season, after they tackle the Raiders on Sept. 7 in Week 1.
“There’s a pair choices, proper? You may attempt to commerce for gamers. You may attempt to declare some gamers subsequent week,” Vrabel stated. “So once more, we’re at all times going to be attempting to strengthen the roster, and that’s what we’ll attempt to do right here over the course of the following 10 days.”
Listed here are some spots the Patriots may tackle earlier than or after Tuesday’s roster cuts:
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Heart Garrett Bradbury, proper guard Mike Onwenu and rookie Jared Wilson are locks. It might be a reasonably main shock if middle/guard Ben Brown will not be on the Week 1 roster. However past these 4 gamers, the Patriots would ideally roster a fifth inside offensive lineman.
Cole Unusual, Caedan Wallace, Sidy Sow, Tyrese Robinson, Layden Robinson, Mekhi Butler and Alec Lindstrom all have been given ample alternative to earn the function, however not have taken the reins.
It might not be stunning if the Patriots may discover a higher guard on the waiver wire.
TACKLE
It’s not straightforward to search out offensive sort out assist at this stage, however behind Will Campbell, Morgan Moses and Marcus Bryant, not one of the different tackles on the roster — Vederian Lowe, Demontrey Jacobs and Jack Conley — have differentiated themselves from the pack. And oddly, Wallace has not seen any work at sort out this summer season.
Lowe would probably win the fourth sort out spot proper now, however the Patriots needs to be looking out for a greater possibility.
TIGHT END
Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper are on the roster. However Jack Westover, Cole Fotheringham, CJ Dippre, Gee Scott and Jaheim Bell all appear to be higher observe squad choices than gamers worthy of 53-man roster spots. It might even be extraordinarily stunning if any of these gamers had been claimed off of waivers.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels loves utilizing tight ends. Maybe the Patriots may discover a higher third blocking tight finish in a commerce.
LINEBACKER
The Patriots may get by with Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jahlani Tavai and Jack Gibbens right here, however Tavai’s well being is a query mark. He’s barely practiced this entire summer season.
If Tavai begins the season on injured reserve, that opens up the chance that Marte Mapu or Monty Rice makes the roster. Neither have actually decisively confirmed they deserve a spot, nonetheless.
THIRD QUARTERBACK
If the Patriots preserve Ben Wooldridge round as their third quarterback behind Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs, then he’ll probably start the season on the observe squad.
Did the Patriots see sufficient from Tommy DeVito in Thursday’s preseason sport to place in a waiver declare, assuming he’s launched, nonetheless? DeVito carved up the Patriots’ protection, going 17-of-20 for 198 yards with three touchdowns. He’s 3-5 as a starter and will push Dobbs for the backup function higher than an undrafted rookie.
CORNERBACK
In in the present day’s NFL, it’s helpful to maintain six cornerbacks on the roster, particularly if they’ve particular groups flexibility. Count on Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin and DJ James to make the roster. There’s no apparent candidate for the sixth spot, nonetheless. Miles Battle, Jordan Polk and Kobee Minor all struggled on Thursday evening. Isaiah Bolden and Brandon Crossley have had quiet summers.
Cornerback looks like a spot the Patriots may fill via a commerce or waiver wire addition.
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