The Patriots finalized their preliminary 53-man roster Tuesday with a whirlwind of 24 roster strikes to succeed in their 53-man restrict.
The Patriots will not be finished with transactions but, nevertheless. Expect most of the gamers who have been reduce Tuesday to be introduced again Wednesday to the apply squad. The Patriots may rapidly re-sign veteran gamers to the 53-man roster after inserting others on injured reserve Tuesday, as properly.
Here’s a have a look at the Patriots’ preliminary 53-man roster in depth chart type. It may look totally different by Sept. 10 when the Patriots play the Eagles in Week 1.
QUARTERBACK (1)
Mac Jones
The Herald’s take: The Patriots stunned the world by waiving quarterbacks Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham. Veteran Trace McSorley was launched Tuesday, as properly, leaving Jones as the one QB on the crew.
So, it seems that Jones gained the quarterback competitors that head coach Bill Belichick continued to entertain final month.
The Patriots will want a backup quarterback when the season begins. They may signal Zappe again to the apply squad. Otherwise, quarterbacks like Colt McCoy, Will Grier, A.J. McCarron, Nick Foles, Chase Daniels and Jeff Driskel can be found.
Jones had a terrific summer time. Zappe struggled mightily in three preseason video games. It made sense that Zappe by no means earned an actual probability to supplant Jones. But slicing him outright was a shock.
RUNNING BACK (2)
Rhamondre Stevenson, Ezekiel Elliott
The Herald’s take: Stevenson is predicted to nonetheless be the Patriots’ lead operating again, however Elliott will have the ability to maintain his legs recent in a committee strategy. Both Stevenson and Elliott can play on all three downs as between-the-tackles rushers, pass-catchers and in blitz pickup.
The Patriots elected to chop Ty Mongtomery, J.J. Taylor and Kevin Harris after buying and selling Pierre Strong. It wouldn’t be stunning if Montgomery was introduced again after a participant was positioned on injured reserve and if Harris was introduced again on the apply squad.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte
The Herald’s take: They did it. The Patriots stored all six of their prime vast receivers with 2023 sixth-round picks Boutte and Douglas each making the crew. Smith-Schuster and Parker are almost certainly to play in two-receiver units. Bourne may go one in all them on the depth if he continues his spectacular trajectory from coaching camp.
Douglas gave the impression to be forward of Thornton based mostly on coaching camp reps. Thornton is coping with an undisclosed harm and will doubtlessly be a candidate to be moved to injured reserve after the Patriots’ preliminary 53-man roster is about.
Boutte got here on robust later in coaching camp and might function depth at exterior receiver if Thornton does miss time.
TIGHT END (2)
Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki
The Herald’s take: The Patriots maintain simply two tight ends on their preliminary 53-man roster as Matt Sokol and Anthony Firkser each received reduce Tuesday.
Expect the Patriots so as to add Sokol or Firkser to the apply squad in the event that they don’t purchase exterior assist on the place. Both Henry and Gesicki received banged up in coaching camp, and the Patriots may use some skilled depth in case extra accidents pop up.
OFFENSIVE LINE (11)
LT Trent Brown, LG Cole Strange, C David Andrews, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Riley Reiff, Calvin Anderson, Atonio Mafi, Sidy Sow, Jake Andrews, Vederian Lowe, Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
IR — Conor McDermott
The Herald’s take: It’s nonetheless unclear who will probably be enjoying proper deal with for the Patriots. It was initially anticipated to be Reiff, however he received injured in Friday’s preseason recreation, hasn’t been practising and had been kicked inside to protect late in coaching camp.
Onwenu has performed proper deal with up to now, however it could be asking rather a lot to maneuver him to his second-best place coming off of a protracted rehab with restricted apply time.
Getting Anderson again off of the non-football sickness listing is huge, although it could be a shock if he was in a position to play instantly after lacking all of coaching camp. Anderson practiced for the primary time Tuesday.
Otherwise, Mafi has seemed just like the Patriots’ prime reserve guard in coaching camp. Sow had been beginning at proper deal with however struggled in preseason motion. Andrews would be the crew’s prime backup heart, however it wouldn’t be stunning if James Ferentz was additionally stored round on the apply squad. Lowe and Wheatley have been acquired through commerce this week. Lowe may play some guard, as properly.
DEFENSIVE LINE (7)
Deatrich Wise, Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Guy, Christian Barmore, Keion White, Daniel Ekuale, Sam Roberts
PUP — Trey Flowers
The Herald’s take: Ultimately, White, who can play wherever from exterior linebacker to defensive deal with, changed Carl Davis within the defensive position group from final season. Davis, who had been with the crew since 2020, was a considerably shock launch Sunday.
Wise and White will primarily play on the sting. Godchaux, Guy, Barmore and Ekuale will take up area in the course of the protection. Roberts is considerably of a tweener who can play defensive finish or defensive deal with at 6-foot-5, 300 kilos.
Flowers will miss at the least 4 video games on the PUP listing.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (3)
Matt Judon, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings
The Herald’s take: Toss Wise and White into this combine, and the Patriots have a pleasant rotation of edge defenders. Judon will doubtless begin on the sting throughout from Wise whereas Uche works in as a situational edge rusher. Jennings is a stout edge setter who will doubtless see a stable chunk of time on early downs. He appeared to take a constructive step ahead as a go rusher this summer time, as properly.
Ronnie Perkins, a 2021 third-round decide, was a troublesome reduce after he impressed within the Patriots’ ultimate preseason recreation. He simply couldn’t keep wholesome in New England.
LINEBACKER (5)
Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Marte Mapu, Mack Wilson, Chris Board
The Herald’s take: Bentley will probably be on the sphere for many defensive snaps because the Patriots’ sign caller. Tavai, like Jennings, is an early-down run stuffer.
Mapu is the true wildcard on this group. Since he spent most of coaching camp in a purple non-contact jersey, it’s nonetheless unclear if the Patriots will truly be utilizing him as a starter, although there have been indicators of that this summer time.
In Friday’s preseason recreation, Mapu was used as an early-down security and sub-package linebacker. At 6-foot-3, 230 kilos with spectacular athleticism, he has the flexibility to play each roles. Wilson can be utilized on particular groups and rotationally at linebacker. Board is a core particular teamer who can be utilized on protection in emergency conditions.
CORNERBACK (7)
Jonathan Jones, Christian Gonzalez, Jack Jones, Marcus Jones, Myles Bryant, Ameer Speed, Shaun Wade
IR — Isaiah Bolden
The Herald’s take: Jonathan Jones wound up lacking most of coaching camp with an harm however continues to be a starter on this protection both exterior or within the slot, relying on what different cornerbacks are round him. Christian Gonzalez has been a part of the crew’s prime protection since he got here in throughout the spring. Jack Jones took probably the most beginning snaps out of the remainder of this group, however his standing stays up within the air as he faces gun expenses.
The Patriots gave Marcus Jones most of his snaps exterior in camp regardless of his 5-foot-8 stature. Bryant will doubtless see loads of enjoying time once more this season break up between the slot and security.
Wade is a considerably stunning inclusion on this group, however the Patriots want one other skilled cornerback relying on what occurs with Jack Jones.
SAFETY (5)
Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, Jabrill Peppers, Jalen Mills, Brenden Schooler
The Herald’s take: Dugger, Phillips and Peppers have been handled like starters this preseason and will obtain probably the most snaps at security. Mills must be concerned, as properly, because the Patriots proceed to combine items into Devin McCourty’s outdated free security spot.
Bryant and Marcus Jones additionally may see time at security. Jonathan Jones has performed security within the Patriots’ protection up to now, as properly.
SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
Ok Chad Ryland, P Bryce Baringer, LS Joe Cardona, ST Matthew Slater
PUP — ST Cody Davis
The Herald’s take: It’s formally a youth motion on particular groups for the Patriots, who reduce punter Corliss Waitman and traded kicker Nick Folk to the Titans. Ryland and Baringer profitable the kicking and punting jobs have been the anticipated outcomes all alongside after they have been chosen within the 2023 NFL Draft. But there’s some danger concerned right here in handing over particular groups reins to 2 rookies. Ryland and Baringer have a lot larger upside than Folk and Waitman, nevertheless.
Davis is a core particular teamer who now will get to relaxation a further 4 weeks on PUP earlier than the Patriots should make their subsequent determination on him.
Source: www.bostonherald.com