The Patriots’ defense has wasted little time making its presence felt in camp, and a handful of veterans and young depth pieces have taken advantage of the early momentum. While the offense has started to find a rhythm - with A.J. Brown and the group beginning to get the ball rolling - the defense has been the unit setting the tone, stuffing run lanes, taking the ball away and giving fringe roster players a chance to stand out.
One of the clearest winners so far has been Elijah Ponder. With Harold Landry and Gabe Jacas out for most of camp, the edge spot opened up, and Ponder stepped right into the mix with the starters.
The 23-year-old, who made the team last year as an undrafted free agent, has followed up a strong mandatory minicamp with a summer that’s only strengthened his case. He’s been around several would-be sacks throughout camp, and the jump from his rookie season is obvious.
At this point, the real question is less about whether he makes the roster and more about what kind of pass-rushing role he can carve out if Landry’s knee keeps him sidelined.
Another edge player pushing for a bigger look is Caleb Holmes. The undrafted free agent from James Madison had to earn his way onto the roster after a successful rookie minicamp tryout, and he’s continued to build on the spring.
Holmes has been working with the backup defense during the summer, and he flashed again in Friday’s intrasquad scrimmage with a pass breakup on Behren Morton and a would-be sack on Morton as well. He’s still on the bubble, but he’s giving himself a real shot to stick if he can carry that into the preseason.
At linebacker, Tysheem Jacobs has quickly made himself hard to ignore. One of the biggest UDFA signings in the NFL this season, Jacobs has mostly worked as the Patriots’ fourth linebacker while also getting plenty of special teams work.
In the scrimmage, he forced two throwaways and nearly intercepted Morton. Right now, the signs are pointing toward him making the roster.
After 12 practices, he’s been lined up with Chad Muma on the second-string defense, and his game speed - something Mike Vrabel praised last week - has shown up consistently in practice. That should only become more obvious when the preseason opener against the Colts arrives this week.
The cornerback picture also shifted when Carlton Davis went down early in camp with what looked like a hamstring injury. That opened the door for backup corners to make their case, and while Kindle Vildor and Karon Prunty have both taken snaps with the top unit, Woods has stood out the most.
A waiver claim from last August, Woods has settled into a steadier role and is getting plenty of work with the starters. If Davis can’t go, Woods would head into the season as the team’s second boundary cornerback.
And then there’s the safety battle, which looked settled after the spring before Pettus forced his way back into the conversation. Earlier in the offseason, Mike Brown seemed to have the third safety job locked up thanks to his heavier workload on defense and special teams.
But Pettus has changed the feel of that competition over the last few months. The third-year player, known mostly for his special teams work, has earned more snaps as a flexible piece in the defense, with reps both deep and in the box.
He also added an interception off Drake Maye in practice, which certainly helps his case.
The preseason will give these players another chance to back up what they’ve already shown in camp, but for now, several defensive risers have put themselves squarely on the radar.
In Other News...
Patriots Camp Battles Are Starting To Reveal How This Roster Could Shift
A day before a joint practice with the Colts, the Patriots were back on the field Monday and getting a better sense of how the roster is taking shape. Carlton Davis returned in a limited capacity after an injury, while Kyle Dixon was out because of his own injury, a reminder that these late-summer practices are as much about availability as they are about evaluation. The session also offered another look at some of the names trying to carve out roles, with Romeo Doubs, Efton Chism III and Tommy DeVito among the players drawing attention.
For New England, these are the kinds of practices that can quietly change a depth chart. With positional shuffling still happening and injury management part of the equation, every rep matters for players trying to make the right impression before the Colts get a closer look. The competition is not settled yet, and Monday only added to the sense that a few roster decisions could be moving in real time. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Move On From A Recent Draft Pick Before Preseason
The Patriots are making another early-summer adjustment to their offensive line depth chart, and this one involves a player they invested in only a year ago. Before the preseason gets rolling, the team is moving on from a recent draft pick as it continues sorting out the best mix up front for the 2026 season.
Caedan Wallace, New Englands 2024 third-round selection, had seen limited action since arriving in Foxborough, appearing in 10 games and making two starts across the past two seasons. For a team still trying to stabilize and reshape its protection plan, the release underscores how quickly roster math can change when a young lineman has not carved out a steady role. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Just Moved On From A Recent Draft Pick As Camp Tightens
Training camp always has a way of sharpening roster decisions, and the Patriots have already made one of the more notable ones on the line. Caedan Wallace, a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is no longer on the roster as New England keeps trimming and sorting through its depth ahead of the season.
Niko Lalos is back in the picture too, after first joining the Patriots on a one-year deal, getting let go in May and now returning to the roster. Moves like these are part of the churn this time of year, but with camp tightening, every transaction carries a little more weight as New England keeps refining the group it plans to carry forward. [Read more 🡒]