The Patriots’ preseason finale with the Eagles should give a different kind of spotlight than the one fans usually circle. After two joint practices, New England is expected to keep its projected regular-season contributors on a short leash, if they play at all. That shifts the focus to the roster battles, the depth pieces, and the players trying to turn one more August night into a real opportunity.
One of the biggest names to watch is 2026 first-round pick Will Lomu. His summer has been uneven, and the Patriots have asked him to do plenty.
Most of his work has come at right tackle, including snaps with the first unit when Morgan Moses gets veteran rest days. But Lomu has also logged time at left tackle, the position he played in college, and even got some reps at guard during the spring.
He flashed last week in the preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, then hit some bumps during this week’s work against Philadelphia. After Thursday’s joint practice, Lomu didn’t hide from that reality.
"It's a good challenge coming out here going against a really good team," Lomu said following Thursday's joint practice. "Nothing's perfect out here ... A lot to learn from, but some good things that I did, also some mistakes that I'm excited to go watch the film and get coached on and learn."
If he settles in Saturday, that would go a long way toward easing concerns about what happens if Moses can’t get through all 17 games.
Another player worth tracking is running back Deneric Haskins. New England signed him last Wednesday, just a day before the Colts game, and he may already be forcing his way into the conversation for the 53-man roster. With Terrell Jennings and Myles Montgomery both out because of injuries, Haskins has a path to stick as depth behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Treveyon Henderson.
Haskins was a fourth-round pick during Vrabel's time as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, and he brings a background that stretches beyond offense alone. Even with less than 36 hours on the roster last week, he still handled five carries for 15 yards against Indianapolis. Now that he’s had more time to absorb the playbook, his workload should climb against the Eagles.
The linebacker spot has gotten interesting too, and Mark Britt has pushed his way into that discussion. A forced fumble against the Colts may have changed his standing. Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss are set as the starters, but the third linebacker role has become less settled.
Chad Muma had been in that spot, yet his preseason showing against Indianapolis opened the door for someone else. Britt may have been the beneficiary.
Not long ago, he looked to be trailing sixth-round rookie Namdi Obiazor and undrafted free agent Khalil Jacobs. This week, though, Britt was moving all over the field and worked with both the first defense and the backups.
If that continues, New England could choose him over one of the rookies when it comes time to sort out the roster.
The Patriots also had to adjust on the interior offensive line when center Ben Brown went down last week, and that puts undrafted rookie Jason Rizy on the radar. He was forced into heavy action in the preseason opener and wound up playing more than three quarters, far more than his third-string competition.
"For a young center to go in there, it was good," Vrabel said about Rizy's performance in the preseason opener. "I didn't think that the way he got thrown into the game by injury was too big for him. He was prepared."
With Brown expected to miss multiple weeks and Andrew Rupcich now on injuured reserve, Rizy’s chance to make the 53-man roster is real simply because the Patriots do not have much depth there.
And then there’s the punter spot, where Bryce Baringer has quietly turned in one of the more encouraging camp stories. His 2026 season finished rough, with 47.4 yards per punt, which ranked 19th in the NFL, and 21 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, tied for 21st-most in the league.
That was ordinary production. But last week against the Colts, Baringer averaged 51.5 yards on six punts, a much louder number.
Another strong night against Philadelphia would only strengthen the sense that he’s heading into this season in better form.
In Other News...
Patriots Fans Just Got A Wild New Behren Morton Storyline
The Patriots got a little extra preseason theater from Behren Morton, the seventh-round pick who managed to show off more than one skill set in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Morton handled quarterback duties and also punted three times, averaging 44.3 yards, while adding some real late-game value by leading a winning drive capped by a touchdown pass to Nick DeGennaro.
Mike Vrabel and teammates took notice of the way Morton kept finding ways to help, which is exactly the sort of versatility that can make a young player harder to ignore in August. Whether his path in New England stays tied to quarterback work, special teams, or a little of both, Morton at least gave the coaching staff something interesting to sort through after a performance that stood out for more than one reason. [Read more 🡒]
Scary Injury Briefly Stopped The Patriots Game And Drew An Update
The preseason opener between the Patriots and Eagles was briefly overshadowed before the first drive ever really got going, when Philadelphia running back Ja'Quinden Jackson went down after taking a knee to the head on the opening kickoff. The injury stopped the game and brought an immediate pause to what had been a routine summer tuneup, with Jackson eventually leaving the field by ambulance.
Philadelphia later provided a reassuring initial update, saying Jackson has strength and movement in all extremities and was being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. For New England, the football part of the night quickly took a back seat to concern for Jackson, whose status now remains the focus after the frightening scene. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Be Sending A Clear Message On Kayshon Boutte
Kayshon Boutte has stayed very much in the mix at Patriots practices, even as his name has started to surface in trade chatter. The Houston Texans interest picked up after receiver Jayden Higgins went down with an injury, but New Englands own recent moves have added another layer to the picture, with the team signing three free agents while Boutte remained on the field.
Those additions can be read as a sign the Patriots are not in a hurry to move him, at least not at a discount. League chatter suggests New England would want a fourth-round pick or better in any deal, a price the Texans may have viewed as too rich. For now, Boutte looks like a player the Patriots still value, which makes the next step in this situation worth watching. [Read more 🡒]