Pats Pulpit
Head coach Mike Vrabel’s 91-man roster left an impression Friday night at Gillette Stadium.
That impression began at kickoff. The New England Patriots didn’t look back from 7:30 p.m. ET on, defeating the Washington Commanders by a score of 48-18.
Here’s an initial glance back on the 2025 preseason opener.
After Tom Brady’s statue was unveiled, three Patriots quarterbacks saw the field. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft would be the first. Drake Maye completed 3-of-5 passes in his first start of August. The rising sophomore stayed in for a pair of drives against Washington, throwing for 12 yards. He added 16 rushing yards, beginning with an 11-yarder to move the chains and continuing with a touchdown jog down at the goal line. A strip-sack was how the first series ended, however, with defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and safety Quan Martin collecting what was nearly a throwaway.
By the 3:13 mark in the first quarter, it was time for backup Joshua Dobbs to enter the huddle. The well-traveled veteran, signed in March, stayed in to go 5-of-12 passing for 45 yards. And on fourth-and-goal with halftime nearing, a circuitous scramble here, there and everywhere resulted in a 27-3 advantage.
Undrafted rookie Ben Wooldridge closed things out for the Patriots in relief. The former transfer from Fresno State to Louisiana handled snaps from the third quarter through the fourth quarter. He didn’t look out of place, finishing 9-of-12 for 132 yards and a touchdown through the air. Chunk connections of 26 and 33 yards to under-the-radar receivers John Jiles and Jeremiah Webb were among them.
New England’s depth chart currently stands 11 deep at wide receiver. And with Stefon Diggs and Kendrick Bourne serving as spectators, the first snap under the Friday night lights went to fellow veteran Mack Hollins, who began training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
But the lone member to catch a pass by intermission was undrafted rookie Efton Chism III. The sudden slot out of Eastern Washington went back-to-back for 14 yards in hurry-up mode. On fourth down and first down, respectively, he later worked downhill for a 12-yard touchdown and a 20-yard slip screen. A team-high eight targets, six receptions and 50 yards were the result.
By then, Ja’Lynn Polk had entered the blue medical tent after an end-around rush resulted in a pickup of one and a hard landing on his right shoulder. Another 2024 draft choice in Javon Baker made his presence felt with two tackles as a gunner on special teams. As for No. 69 overall pick Kyle Williams, the Washington State speedster garnered four targets in his preseason debut, gaining separation on a go ball as well as a slant into the end zone to no avail.
The first kickoff proved to be enough for TreVeyon Henderson’s...
