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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%)
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 are all on their way to securing roles on the team. The trio ran with the starters against Minnesota, and contributed in a positive fashion.
Arguably the most noteworthy development, however, came at left guard. Even though Jared Wilson was cleared to play after departing Thursday’s joint practice early with an apparent ailment, he did not line up with the starters after previously earning that role. Instead, Ben Brown was the first man up between Will Campbell and Garrett Bradbury; he later flipped to center to seemingly further get a chance to prove his value to the team.
The same was true with other linemen as well. Wilson played guard and center, his position at the University of Georgia, while Cole Strange played all three interior spot and looked good doing so. At tackle, the aforementioned Marcus Bryant as well as Demontrey Jacobs and Vederian Lowe all moved between the left and the right side. Having flexible players like that might make it difficult for comparatively one-dimensional linemen — i.e. the likes of Sidy Sow, Layden Robinson or Caedan Wallace — to end up on the 53-man team.
_Total snaps: 67 | Time on the field: 24:17_
> S Kyle Dugger (45; 67%), S Marcus Epps (44; 66%), LB Monty Rice (39; 58%), CB Miles Battle (38; 57%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (37; 55%), CB Kobee Minor (36; 54%), CB Jordan Polk (34; 51%), S Dell Pettus (33; 49%), ED Truman Jones (32; 48%), DT Kyle Peko (32; 48%), ED Bradyn Swinson (28; 42%), S Craig Woodson\* (28; 42%), ED Elijah Ponder (27; 40%), LB Cam Riley (26; 39%), CB Alex Austin\* (24; 36%), ED Anfernee Jennings (23; 34%), CB Brandon Crossley (23; 34%), LB Jack Gibbens (20; 30%), CB Tre Avery (17; 25%), DT _Jahvaree Ritzie_ (17; 25%), DT Joshua Farmer (16; 24%), DT Isaiah Iton (14; 21%), DT David Olajiga (13; 19%), ED Keion White\* (11; 16%), LB R.J. Moten (9; 13%), S Jaylinn Hawkins\* (8; 12%), LB Christian Elliss\* (8; 12%), LB Robert Spillane\* (8; 12%), DT Milton Williams\* (8; 12%), DT Khyiris Tonga\* (8; 12%), ED K’Lavon Chaisson (7; 10%), CB Isaiah Bolden (6; 9%), CB Carlton Davis III\* (6; 9%), ED Harold Landry III\* (6; 9%), CB Marcus Jones\* (5; 7%)
Kyle Dugger was not the only former starter on the field for the final snap of the game. Anfernee Jennings, who started 30 games over the last two years, also was part of the defensive package used. Like his fellow 2020 draft pick, he also played a high number of reps: Jennings was on the field for 23 of 67 (34%), but seems to be in a slightly better situation with roster cuts looming. The 27-year-old had three sacks on Saturday.
Other defenders worth highlighting include edges Truman Jones, Bradyn Swinson and Elijah Ponder. The three youngsters very well might be fighting with Jennings for may not be more than one spot in the rotation. All of them also saw significant action on special teams, which ultimately might become a deciding factor.
Another name to keep an eye on in the coming week plus is Jeremiah Pharms Jr. Despite signing a two-year, $2.5 million extension in the offseason, his spot on the team does not seem secure based on his usage: he also played deep into the game and a high number of overall snaps (37; 55%).
_Total snaps: 27 | Time on the field: 2:35_
> CB Miles Battle (12; 44%), CB Jordan Polk (12; 44%), LB Monty Rice (11; 41%), S Dell Pettus (11; 41%), ED Elijah Ponder (11; 41%), LB Cam Riley (11; 41%), ED Bradyn Swinson (10; 37%), ED Truman Jones (9; 33%), LS Julian Ashby (9; 33%), P/H Bryce Baringer (9; 33%), LB Jack Gibbens (8; 30%), CB Tre Avery (8; 30%), WR John Jiles (7; 26%), TE C.J. Dippre (7; 26%), ED Anfernee Jennings (7; 26%), CB Isaiah Bolden (7; 26%), S Brenden Schooler (7; 26%), K Andy Borregales (7; 26%), WR/KR/PR Jeremiah Webb (6; 22%), TE Gee Scott Jr. (6; 22%), TE Jaheim Bell (6; 22%), S Craig Woodson (6; 22%), LB R.J. Moten (6; 22%), WR Javon Baker (5; 19%), RB/KR JaMycal Hasty (5; 19%), TE Cole Fotheringham (5; 19%), OL Cole Strange (5; 19%), OL Tyrese Robinson (5; 19%), OL Layden Robinson (5; 19%), S Kyle Dugger (5; 19%), S Marcus Epps (4; 15%), CB Kobee Minor (4; 15%), CB Brandon Crossley (4; 15%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (4; 15%), OT Demontrey Jacobs (3; 11%), OT Marcus Bryant (3; 11%), OL Ben Brown (3; 11%), TE Jack Westover (3; 11%), OL Mike Onwenu (3; 11%), OL Caedan Wallace (3; 11%), DT Kyle Peko (3; 11%), CB Alex Austin (3; 11%), LB Christian Elliss (3; 11%), K Parker Romo (3; 11%), OT Vederian Lowe (2; 7%), OL Alec Lindstrom (2; 7%), OT Jack Conley (2; 7%), OL Mehki Butler (2; 7%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (2; 7%), ED K’Lavon Chaisson (2; 7%), DT Jereme Robinson (2; 7%), WR/PR Efton Chism III (1; 4%), RB Antonio Gibson (1; 4%), WR Kayshon Boutte (1; 4%), RB/KR TreVeyon Henderson (1; 4%), DT Jahvaree Ritzie (1; 4%), DT Isaiah Iton (1; 4%), DT David Olajiga (1; 4%), LB Robert Spillane (1; 4%), CB/PR Marcus Jones (1; 4%)
As noted above, special teams might end up playing a big part in final roster and practice squad decisions. And the usage on Saturday might give us a clue where the team sees potential battles: Miles Battle and Jordan Polk for a final cornerback spot; Monty Rice and Cam Riley as depth/special teams linebackers; the aforementioned Elijah Ponder, Truman Jones, Bradyn Swinson and Anfernee Jennings on the edge. No more than one per position out of those eight might make it onto the 53 when all is said and done.
In addition, the return options also were rotated. While Marcus Jones and TreVeyon Henderson appear to be the top punt and kickoff returners, respectively, at the moment, a player like Jeremiah Webb — who ended up playing both spots against Minnesota and had a 59-yard kickoff return — could be emerging as a realistic depth candidate to be kept on the practice squad.
> CB Christian Gonzalez, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, S Jabrill Peppers, WR Stefon Diggs, LB Marte Mapu, RB Terrell Jennings, CB D.J. James, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, LB Jahlani Tavai, OT Morgan Moses, WR Kendrick Bourne, TE Hunter Henry, DT Christian Barmore
The Patriots’ list of DNPs reads like a who’s who of their current roster. It includes two of their three best players: cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who continues to be hampered by a hamstring injury, and Christian Barmore, who remains on a snap count while working his way back from a bout with blood clots that disrupted his entire 2024 campaign.
Beyond those two, the Patriots also sat out several other starters such as Jabrill Peppers, Stefon Diggs, Rhamondre Stevenson, Morgan Moses and Hunter Henry. The rest of the inactives, meanwhile, are on the roster bubble and therefore missing valuable opportunities.
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