FOXBOROUGH – When the Patriots traded Kyle Dugger to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the loss of the veteran player opened up more opportunities for Dell Pettus.
The second-year safety has worked hard since making the team’s roster as an undrafted free agent. When Dugger was traded, however, the last thing he thought about was getting more playing time.
Instead, Pettus was sad that he wouldn’t share the same field with a friend and mentor.
“It definitely sucks seeing him go,” Pettus said. “He was one of the guys, as my time grew on here, I really learned a lot from. Somebody I admired and respected, how he went about day to day – his play style, everything. I learned a lot from Dugg, really respect him as a player, as a friend, too. I just hate to see him go, honestly.”
Pettus signed with the Patriots last year as an undrafted free agent out of Troy University. He quickly became the most talented undrafted player during the 2024 offseason, and it wasn’t a surprise when he made the team’s 53-man roster out of training camp.
As a rookie, Pettus played in 17 games, making one start. He finished with 34 tackles with a sack and two pass breakups. He said he grew close with Dugger last season and noted the veteran took him under his wing. Dugger started every game for the Patriots from 2022 to 2024.
“I really learned how to be a professional. How to study,” Pettus said. “That was one thing that he helped me out a lot with my first year – how he studied. I watched him prepare. He was somebody who always knew the answer, somebody who was always prepared, always in the right place. Stuff like that, I watched him at practice, see how he went about things, how he carried himself. Really, being a professional.”
For the Patriots’ safeties, life changed under Mike Vrabel. In his scheme, the defense calls for two athletic safeties to play deep coverage. In previous years, a player like Dugger was often utilized in the box like a linebacker. With the new scheme not being an ideal fit and Dugger’s big contract, he became a trade target as the team opted to start Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson at safety.
With Dugger in Pittsburgh, Pettus could be the next man up. He said he’s prepared for more opportunities.
“I don’t think it changes anything about my day-to-day life or preparation,” Pettus said. “I always try to prepare as if I was going to play and be ready for my opportunities just like I have been this entire season. It doesn’t really change much for me because I’ve always had the same mindset.”
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