New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots will soon cut their roster down to 53.
New England spent months acquiring players, coaching them up, tinkering with a depth chart and competing in some extremely lopsided preseason matchups, all to slash their numbers in half this weekend and start preparing for a matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.
Who will stay? Who will go?
I’ll take a stab at guessing:
IN: Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs
OUT: Ben Wooldridge (PS)
Ben Wooldridge largely the better player during preseason contests, and likely earned himself a few more paychecks byway of the practice squad, but Josh Dobbs’ veteran experience will reign supreme in the backup quarterback competition.
Drake Maye, for those of you unaware, will be the starter.
I’ve been told he’s pretty good.
IN: Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson
OUT: Terrell Jennings (PS), JaMycal Hasty, Shane Watts, Micah Bernard
IR: Lan Larison
The Patriots have a three-headed monster in their backfield, but depth is something of an issue. Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson can hold it down so long as they stay healthy, but it’ll get choppy if one of them suffers and injury.
Terrell Jennings probably fits what they’re looking for out of a practice squad option due to his experience and willingness to compete on special teams. JaMycal Hasty and Shane Watts showed some juice during the preseason, however, so I wouldn’t be surprised if either stuck around.
Lan Larison would have made a push had he not suffered a season-ending injury.
IN: Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III
OUT: John Jiles (PS), Jeremiah Webb (PS), Javon Baker, Phil Lutz
IR: Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk
I don’t think anyone expected this group to figure itself out so easily, but things have fallen into place rather nicely.
Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas are your primary options, while Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams will be given situational opportunities.
Efton Chism III earns that sixth and final spot on the active roster, while Kendrick Bourne will have an opportunity to occupy one of two mid-season return designations on injured reserve. Ja’Lynn Polk, on the other hand, appears done for the season.
IN: Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper
OUT: Jack Westover (PS), Cole Fotheringham (PS), Jaheim Bell, CJ Dippre, Gee Scott Jr.
IR: Brock Lampe
The Patriots will have to get creative at this position, as they only really have room for the veterans — Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper.
Jack Westover and Cole Fotheringham have been battling for those fullback reps during the final few weeks of camp, so they get the practice squad contracts that will likely include some game day elevations. Brock Lampe would have locked that down had he not gotten injured.
New England will have to address that lack of depth at some point, though.
*IN: Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Marcus Bryant, Vederian Lowe,...
