Pats Pulpit
Under normal circumstances, you would expect a multi-year starter not to be on the field for the final snap of a preseason game. However, circumstances are anything but that for Kyle Dugger this summer.
The former second-round draft pick, who started 6 combined games over his first five seasons with the New England Patriots, played deep into Saturday’s preseason bout with the Minnesota Vikings. While he did cap the game with an interception — a play on which, upon review, he seemed to try to indeed go down but his momentum forced him to collide with another player leading to an almost-fumble – the fact that he was on the field to begin with is a worrying sign for his outlook.
That is especially true given how his summer went so far. Dugger entered training camp seemingly locked into a top safety spot. However, he first started ceding reps to rookie Craig Woodson in three-safety packages. Then, he was removed from them entirely, spending his practices with the second-stringers rather than the top-level defense.
The Patriots’ game in Minnesota was more of the same. Dugger was not among the starting safeties — Woodson and Jaylinn Hawkins received top billing — and ended up leading the team with 45 defensive snaps. Considering his recent demotion and apparent questionable fit in New England’s new-look defense, one has to wonder if the 29-year-old might be on his way out of town just 16 months after signing a four-year, $58 million extension.
Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 20-12 win at US. Bank Stadium.
Total snaps: 72 | Time on the field: 33:08
LT/RT Demontrey Jacobs (44; 61%), WR Javon Baker (37; 51%), RB JaMycal Hasty (36; 50%), WR John Jiles (34; 47%), WR Jeremiah Webb (31; 43%), TE/FB Cole Fotheringham (31; 43%), QB Ben Wooldridge (31; 43%), LT/RT Vederian Lowe (30; 42%), LG/C Jared Wilson (30; 42%), RT/LT Marcus Bryant* (28; 39%), LG/C Ben Brown* (28; 39%), C Alec Lindstrom (27; 38%), RT Jack Conley (27; 38%), QB Joshua Dobbs (26; 36%), WR Efton Chism III (25; 35%), LG/RG/C Cole Strange (24; 33%), TE C.J. Dippre (23; 32%), TE/FB Jack Westover* (23; 32%), RG Sidy Sow (23; 32%), WR Kyle Williams (20; 28%), RG Tyrese Robinson (17; 24%), LG Mehki Butler (17; 24%), RG Mike Onwenu* (15; 21%), RB Shane Watts (15; 21%), TE Austin Hooper* (15; 21%), QB Drake Maye* (15; 21%), C Garrett Bradbury* (15; 21%), LT Will Campbell* (15; 21%), TE Gee Scott Jr. (13; 18%), RB Antonio Gibson* (12; 17%), WR Kayshon Boutte* (12; 17%), RG Layden Robinson (10; 14%), LG Caedan Wallace (10; 14%), TE Jaheim Bell (9; 12%), RB TreVeyon Henderson (9; 12%), WR Mack Hollins* (6; 8%), WR DeMario Douglas (5; 7%)
*denotes starter
The Patriots did not employ their full starting offense on Saturday, but they did tip their hand that supposed fringe players like wide receiver Mack Hollins, tight end/fullback Jack Westover and offensive tackle Marcus Bryant...
