The Patriots have spent most of the preseason doing their real work in joint practices, giving Mike Vrabel a chance to evaluate his team in a competitive setting without leaning too heavily on exhibition games. That approach has also meant the starters have sat out both preseason contests, and there still isn’t any word on whether that will change for the final tune-up.
Vrabel’s concern about depth has been easy to see, and the linebacker group has become the clearest example of it. After two preseason games, the position looks thin enough that New England may need to make a move before the season starts.
Chad Muma was one of the early camp standouts, with enough praise around his aggressiveness and instincts to make him look like a roster lock. But that momentum hasn’t carried into the first two preseason games.
He had major trouble with missed tackles against the Indianapolis Colts, and he didn’t exactly rebound against the Philadelphia Eagles. His pursuit angles still need work, and his window to clean that up in Foxborough may be shrinking.
Khalil Jacobs and K.J. Britt are also in the mix, though neither has made the case look much stronger. Britt was another liability in Week 1, while Jacobs may be more of a special teams piece at this stage of his development.
At minimum, the Patriots will need one of those two to round out a linebacker room that already projects to include Christian Elliss and Robert Spillane. Even that is a shaky setup, especially with Elliss dealing with recent injuries.
The free-agent board is not exactly overflowing with answers. New England did show interest in Shaq Thompson, who already knows the AFC East, but that visit didn’t lead to a deal.
There are still other names the Patriots could explore, including Bobby Okereke, Matt Milano, or Logan Wilson. They could also wait and see if another team cuts someone they like when rosters are trimmed to 53.
Either way, linebacker is the spot worth watching. The secondary has looked sharp, and the pass rush could be in decent shape if Gabe Jacas can help as a rookie, but the Patriots could use more bodies in the middle of the defense.
In Other News...
Patriots Bubble Players Face One Final Shot To Survive Cuts
The Patriots head into their preseason finale against the Browns with the hard part still to come, and for a handful of players, this game is less about the score than the final impression. New England must trim its roster from 90 to 53 after the contest, which puts an unforgiving spotlight on bubble players who have spent camp trying to separate themselves from the pack.
Among the names drawing the most attention are running back Lan Larison, linebacker Chad Muma, quarterback Behren Morton and wide receiver Efton Chism III, all of whom need a strong showing to help their case. The competition has been tight throughout camp, and recent performances have only sharpened the stakes, leaving one last chance for these players to make a convincing argument before the cuts arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Family Helped Deliver A Gillette Moment Fans Will Love
Gillette Stadium recently became the setting for a moment that went far beyond football, as Ann Michael Maye joined Skylar, a 16-year-old Massachusetts teen diagnosed with a brain tumor, for a Make-A-Wish experience built around something as simple and comforting as baking gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. The visit also gave Skylar a customized Patriots jersey and tickets to a preseason game, turning a team site into a day centered on family, support and a little bit of joy.
Drake Maye was part of the moment too, even if only through FaceTime, and he later signed Skylars jersey before the game. For the Patriots, it was the kind of off-field connection that reminds fans how often the organizations biggest impact has nothing to do with the scoreboard, and how a visit to Foxborough can mean something lasting when it is tied to a childs wish. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Starter Suddenly Has Real Reason To Fear For His Job
Bryce Baringers injury has pushed the Patriots into another uneasy stretch at a position they would prefer not to keep revisiting. After missing the previous game, Baringers absence forced New England to add veteran Matt Haack, and the timing gives the team a chance to see whether a temporary fix can look like something more. The Patriots have dealt with punter instability in recent years, so even a small change at the spot tends to get attention.
Haack is expected to handle punting duties in the upcoming preseason game, and what happens next will hinge on how quickly Baringer gets back. If the veteran settles in well, the Patriots may have more to think about than just getting through one injury absence. For a team that has been searching for steadier footing at the position, this is the kind of camp development that can quietly become a real roster decision. [Read more 🡒]