For the first time since their preseason finale and their subsequent first round of cuts, the New England Patriots were back at practice on Sunday. Not all of the 77 players left on the active roster were spotted, though.
A total of 11 players did not make an appearance on the fields behind Gillette Stadium for the shells-and-shorts session.
Most of the 11 non-participants on Sunday did not come as a surprise considering they already missed time previously. However, four names on the list stand out: offensive linemen Cole Strange and Layden Robinson, linebacker Jack Gibbens, and safety Marcus Epps.
As opposed to the other seven players missing, those four did take the field against the New York Giants on Friday night. Strange played 32 snaps as a reserve interior lineman and was flagged for holding at one point; Robinson played three snaps on special teams; Gibbens played 21 defensive snaps — forcing a fumble and registering a sack along the way — plus four in the kicking game; Epps also played four special teams snaps and another 44 on defense.
None of the four appear to have suffered any injuries in the game, which puts them in the spotlight with NFL roster cutdown day only 48 hours away. Fact is, after all, that they found themselves on the roster bubble all summer long and are not guaranteed a spot on the team.
Sunday therefore might provide a clue when it comes to the Patriots’ intentions. Whether or not that clue will turn out to be accurate remains to be seen.
New England will have to trim its roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Before that deadline, the team will hold one more practice on Monday afternoon.
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