EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In many ways, we learned more about the 2025 Patriots based on what transpired before their preseason finale than anything that happened between the lines against the Giants.
The Patriots sat 31 of their 91 players on Thursday night, and it was an ugly day for the backups in the 42-10 loss.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk, Kyle Williams, Kendrick Bourne and Efton Chism, running back Terrell Jennings, outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings and linebacker Jahlani Tavai are dealing with injuries, so that explains their absences.
But the fact that OLB Harold Landry, WR DeMario Douglas, RB Antonio Gibson, CB Carlton Davis, WR Stefon Diggs, WR Kayshon Boutte, QB Drake Maye, WR Mack Hollins, LB Robert Spillane, S Jaylinn Hawkins, CB Marcus Jones, RB TreVeyon Henderson, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, LB Christian Elliss, C Garrett Bradbury, LT Will Campbell, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Morgan Moses, TE Austin Hooper, TE Hunter Henry, DT Christian Barmore, DT Khyiris Tonga and DT Milton Williams weren’t required to play bodes well for their status on the 53-man roster before Tuesday’s cutdowns.
It was a surprise to see defensive end Keion White and safety Jabrill Peppers not included in that list. Both players seem like roster locks, but they were heavily involved in the first half. Peppers took a bad angle on a 50-yard reception from Giants wide receiver (and old friend) Gunner Olszewski. White lost his spot in the first-team defense to K’Lavon Chaisson in practice this week and came away with one hurry.
Best
S Kyle Dugger: Dugger entered the game in the second quarter like a player who knows he’s fighting for a roster spot. He flashed impressive coverage, made a defensive stop and picked off Giants QB Jameis Winston in the end zone on fourth down all in the same drive. He did miss a tackle later in the game and got caught flat-footed on a big play in the second half.
LB Marte Mapu: Another guy fighting for a roster spot. If Tavai begins the season on injured reserve, it could be enough for Mapu to earn a spot. He broke up his only target and had a defensive stop from his new position, converting from safety to linebacker this summer.
WR Jeremiah Webb: Let’s give it up for the undrafted rookie wide receiver who keeps making plays. Webb scored on a 10-yard pass from rookie QB Ben Wooldridge.
S Craig Woodson: The 2025 fourth-round pick opened the game as a starter next to Peppers. He was in close coverage on two incompletions in the first half.
Worst
WR Javon Baker: Baker had two targets in the first half and didn’t come away with either of them. Both passes from Wooldridge hit his hands. They were also broken up by Giants defensive backs, so they don’t officially go down as drops. Baker was also charged with an offensive pass interference penalty. Baker is fighting for a roster spot and hasn’t done much to earn it throughout the summer and especially in the preseason.
CB Jordan Polk: The undrafted rookie has garnered the attention of head coach Mike Vrabel in recent weeks. He was flagged twice for holding in Thursday’s preseason game, however.
CB Miles Battle: Battle has hung around the cornerback competition, but he allowed a touchdown to Giants tight end Greg Dulcich in the first quarter.
CB Kobee Minor: Mr. Irrelevant in the 2025 NFL Draft as the final pick, Minor also allowed a touchdown.
What else we learned
The top offensive line was LT Vederian Lowe, LG Jared Wilson, C Ben Brown, RG Sidy Sow and RT Marcus Bryant. Lowe and Bryant flipped for the second drive. Cole Strange later replaced Brown, and Caedan Wallace replaced Wilson. In the second half, Demontrey Jacobs and Jack Conley entered the game at tackle, and Tyrese Robinson replaced Sow. If the Patriots were to keep nine offensive linemen, based on tonight’s game, it would likely be Campbell, Bradbury, Onwenu, Moses, Wilson, Brown, Lowe, Bryant and Sow based on playing time. Strange and Wallace also appear to be in the mix.
Veteran defensive tackle Kyle Peko, signed late in training camp, made an impact with two pressures. He could make a push for a fifth or sixth defensive tackle role.
It’s been a quiet summer for draft picks Joshua Farmer, a defensive tackle, and Bradyn Swinson, an outside linebacker. Their status as fourth- and fifth-round picks, respectively, should be enough to make the 53-man roster, but we’ll see on Tuesday.
It will be fascinating to see what happens at safety on Tuesday. Hawkins is locked in. So is Woodson. Peppers certaintly seemed like a roster lock until he played in half of the team’s third preseason game. And Brenden Schooler obviously makes the roster as a special teams ace and part-time safety. The Patriots will likely keep at least one more out of Dugger, Marcus Epps and Dell Pettus. Pettus played better than Epps, who allowed a touchdown, on Thursday night.
There was a bizarre play in the first half when Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart dropped back to pass then scrambled from the Giants’ 45-yard line to the Patriots’ 32-yard line before fumbling the ball away to the Patriots. Jack Gibbens was on the forced fumble, and Peppers recovered. But Polk was flagged for holding while Dart was dropped back to pass. The refs assessed the penalty from the Patriots’ 32-yard line to the Patriots’ 27-yard line. It was not an error. That’s the correct ruling based on the “basic spot” Rule 14, Section 4, Article 3, which reads, in part: “When a foul occurs during a running play, and the run in which the foul occurs is followed by a change of possession, the basic spot is the spot where possession is lost.”
Wooldridge didn’t end on a high note, going 10-of-20 for 82 yards with a touchdown and an interception. On the turnover, a pick-six, it appeared Wooldridge expected tight end Jaheim Bell to sit in coverage. Bell kept going, and Wooldridge’s pass sailed behind him into cornerback TJ Moore’s waiting arms for a touchdown.
We won’t make too big of a deal about it, since it’s the third preseason game, but the Patriots’ defense was shredded for 326 yards and five touchdowns through the air and 111 yards on the ground. There were some potential starters, like Peppers and White on the field for many of those yards.
The Patriots could be on the lookout for a third quarterback during cutdowns. Did Giants QB Tommy DeVito do enough to catch their eye? He was 17-of-20 for 198 yards with three touchdowns and seems like the odd-man out behind Dart, Winston and Russell Wilson.
Rookie kicker Andres Borregales missed a 49-yard field goal but hit from 30 and had an extra point. Parker Romo didn’t see the field.
Originally Published: August 21, 2025 at 9:19 PM EDT