Patriots News And Notes 8-24, Team Begins Cutdowns To 53
(PHOTO: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
Good morning. Here is your Patriots news, 8-24, and NFL notes this week. The Patriots wrapped up the preseason with a 42-10 loss to the Giants, as they kept 35 players inactive, about 30 of whom will probably make the team.
Several players who are expected to make the team did play, some playing extended snaps.
On Friday, the Patriots released the first players in the cut down to the initial 53-man roster limit. Those players included: LB R.J. Moten, DT Kyle Peko, RB Shane Watts, DB Jordan Polk, TE Jaheim Bell, QB Ben Wooldridge, CB Isaiah Bolden, G Tyrese Robinson, TE Cole Fotheringham, RB Micah Bernard, WR Phil Lutz, LB Monty Rice, G Sidy Sow, and DT Philip Blidi.
A few were mild surprises; although Peko was brought in just a short time ago, he performed well, and a big run stuffer as himself is always valuable to have as a backup.
With depth thin at off-the-ball linebacker and Jahlani Tavai injured, I thought Monty Rice may stick around as a depth piece. But he was cut loose, and it could open the door for Marte Mapu to stick.
When the team invested a late-round pick in Jaheim Bell, his athleticism stood out and immediately brought back images of “he who shall not be named” as a move or “Flex” tight end. But he was never able to carve out a role or impress when he got playing time.
Ben Wooldridge was never expected to make the 53-man roster; however, the door is still open for him to make the practice squad, unless the team picks up another QB off the waiver wire, Tommy DeVito?
Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:
Jeremiah Webb: Webb scored the Patriots’ only touchdown on Thursday night and did a “Lambeau Leap” in the stands of the Giants’ stadium crowd. After the game, QB Ben Wooldridge related to the media that Webb had been saying for weeks that he was planning on doing exactly that.
In the post-game presser, Webb was asked what led up to it. Webb replied, “I already had it made up since the first pre-season game. I said if I get in the end zone, I’m Lambeau Leaper. That’s always been a dream of mine. That was the first… It was awesome, man (smiling).”
Mike Vrable – Rat Hunter: The head coach was none too pleased when asked about a leaked report that wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk would miss the entire 2025 NFL season due to another shoulder injury requiring season-ending surgery. Vrabel initially said he had nothing to add to that report before delivering a warning.
“No. Other than, I’d like to find out where some of these [reports] come from. Some of these rats around here. We’ll figure that out.”
So, as the “sources inside the building,” be careful about leaking information out or the head coach may be on the lookout for you. And it won’t be pleasant.
The Spot On Dart’s Scramble: There was an intriguing penalty call during Thursday Night’s Finale, where Jackson Dart scrambled for about 30 yards, he was hit and stripped of the ball by Jack Gibbens which was recovered by the Patriots.
However the Patriots were flagged with a five-yard penalty (defensive holding). But instead of returning to the original line of scrimmage and stepping off five yards, the Giants were able to keep Dart’s run to the point of the fumble, and five yards was assessed there.
After the game, head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about the curious spotting of the ball. “Yeah, you know, those are specifics that come up in training camp and being on top of that and understanding how that works is an interesting perspective, and the officials explained it pretty quickly. So those are unique.”
Asked if he had seen that called before, Vrabel answered, “I don’t think in a game that I was a part of.”
Patriots No Huddle Podcast: Derek, Mike, and I discussed training camp and the preseason with Mike Dussault of Patriots Unfiltered. Derek, Mike, and I later recorded a quick post-game podcast of the final preseason game. You can find our podcasts on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify. Please take a look and leave us a review.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position.
This will be displayed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
Breaking Down The Veteran Player Usage of Thursday’s PS Finale:
The Patriots’ preseason finale loss to the Giants had 35 players who were inactive. Several were due to injuries: LB Anfernee Jennings, LB Jahlani Tavai, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, and RB Terrell Jennings.
But the remainder were rested, perhaps indicating that their roster positions were safe. The Patriots who were inactive were taken from the NFL’s Gamebook:
CB 0 C.Gonzalez, WR 1 Ja.Polk, LB 2 H.Landry, WR 3 D.Douglas, RB 4 A.Gibson, CB 7 C.Davis, WR 8 S.Diggs, WR 9 K.Boutte, QB 10 D.Maye, QB 11 J.Dobbs, WR 13 M.Hollins, LB 14 R.Spillane, WR 18 K.Williams, S 21 J.Hawkins, CB 25 M.Jones, RB 26 T.Jennings, RB 32 T.Henderson, LB 33 A.Jennings, K 37 J.Romo, RB 38 R.Stevenson, S 41 B.Schooler, LB 44 K.Chaisson, LB 48 J.Tavai, LB 53 C.Elliss, C 65 G.Bradbury, T 66 W.Campbell, OL 71 M.Onwenu, T 76 M.Moses, TE 81 A.Hooper, WR 84 K.Bourne, TE 85 H.Henry, WR 86 E.Chism, DT 90 C.Barmore, DL 95 K.Tonga, DE 97 M.Williams
Jabrill Peppers – Peppers played quite a few snaps on defense, but Vrabel explained that in his post-game press conference. He said that the team wanted some tape of Peppers and rookie safety Craig Woodson on the field together.
Reading the tea leaves a bit on that comment, Vrabel may see that duo as a starting tandem for the defense this season in certain situations or packages. Throwing some stuff at the wall, it would seem like, judging from Vrabel’s comments below, that Peppers may be a captain again for 2025.
Marte Mapu – The safety turned linebacker had a good game on Thursday night. The best thing to happen to him was the Vrabel conversion to strictly inside linebacker. He always looked much better suited to play linebacker. Now he is starting to show his potential.
Against the Giants, he may have made enough of a showing to stick to the 53-man roster as a backup coverage linebacker and special teams contributor. Was it enough? We shall soon see.
Mapu can cover running backs and tight ends and contribute on special teams. The depth is thin at inside (off-the-ball) linebacker, with Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, and Jack Gibbens. Jahlani Tavai is banged up, and the team could really use a fifth inside linebacker. That could be a fourth backer if Tavai is placed on IR after the 53-man roster cutdown. Or possibly released. Gibbens fills a similar downhill role with a bit more speed than Tavai, but he’s been a valuable inside linebacker, who can fill in on the edge as well as play special teams.
Kyle Dugger: After playing well in the finale, Dugger was complimented by coach Vrabel. While he had fallen deep down the depth chart, it should be remembered that he was working back from offseason surgery and adapting to a new defensive scheme.
On Thursday night, after rewatching the film, he resembled the Dugger of 2023, moving much better. He looked the part of a starter playing against bottom-of-the-roster players. And for the second week in a row, he made an interception in the end zone at the end of a half.
His chances for the roster, which seemed so bleak a week ago, now look much more promising. But he will play behind Craig Woodson. Woodson can play a variety of positions and styles, and it seems like the coaching staff really likes him. I can see why Vrable wants film on him and Peppers playing together.
Keion White – White was considered a starter until the last week or so. Then K’Lavon Chaisson, who has had a very good training camp and preseason, has leapfrogged White as the starter on the edge opposite Harold Landry.
It was curious to see White play so many snaps in the preseason finale, but Vrabel explained that he was just working through some things that they’d been working on.
White had some disruptive plays off the edge, but not enough, as one would imagine him playing against bottom-of-the-roster players. White isn’t going anywhere, but he is now a backup edge player, and he was expected to see a huge jump in production in 2025, especially with a new attacking style of defense that Vrabel employs.
While that may still happen, this is definitely a step back to start the season.
Vederian Lowe – Lowe appears to have been beaten out for the top swing tackle role by Marcus Bryant. The rookie played about 10 snaps, mostly at left tackle, while last year’s starter at left tackle played 35 snaps split between left and right tackle. Lowe played well in pass protection.
Cole Strange played a lot of snaps at center, where he still doesn’t look overly comfortable. However, he can play all three interior OL positions, which is a plus, but I still have him on the outside looking in. Caedan Wallace, in contrast, only plays guard, but had a good game on Thursday.
The cut down to 53 will set up the initial roster by Tuesday afternoon. Then the team will set up the initial practice squad. We will probably see some movement there and on the trade front.
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“Again, we got to have 11 out there. Wanted him to see him play with Craig, alongside. Pep has played a couple of different spots. Wanted to just see him play safety alongside Craig [Woodson].
“I know he’s played some nickel, in the box on third down, he’s played some different places. Tonight, where we wanted to see him was alongside Craig playing safety exclusively.”
Mike Vrabel, answering a question about the usage of Jabrill Peppers. And saying that the team wanted some tape on Peppers and Woodson playing together.
“Because I decided and talked to Keion and wanted to see him work on some things and continue to develop and try to continue to improve.
“He was excited about playing. He wanted to play more. That’s kind of our whole job, is to be ready to play and prepared until told otherwise. Just try to work on some things that we had been talking about and do it in game action.”
Vrabel adding some thoughts on playing Keion White so much during the final preseason game.
“Yeah, I think he’s continued to take advantage of the opportunities and the reps. I think he’s feeling more comfort able. We talked about a long rehab process in the off-season that he committed to. It wasn’t a quick rehab process. I mean, he had surgery.
I think that he’s gotten better. I think he’s improved. I think he’s feeling better. Looks like he’s feeling better on tape. That’s good to see. Those are all positive things. Making a play, two interceptions. I thought he flashed. I thought he triggered. I thought he tackled. I thought his length showed up. All these things.
We didn’t blitz anybody tonight, didn’t do any of that. Just playing in our base scheme. Those things I thought showed up tonight.”
Vrabel on how Kyle Dugger is improving in the system.
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“Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, ‘Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we’re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we’re making.’” — Mike Vrabel
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Tags: 53 Man Roster Projection Cole Strange Jeremiah Webb Keion White Kyle Dugger Marcus Bryant Marte Mapu Mike Vrabel Vederian Lowe