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By just about every metric, the New England Patriots passed their preseason debut with flying colors. While you\u2019d love to see quarterback Drake Maye protect the football better, the first-team offense moved the ball, converted in the red zone, and flashed what could be a dynamic rushing attack in 2025, from the backs, to the quarterback, to a younger (and visibly more spry) offensive line.<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s trip to Minneapolis could be a reality check for Mike Vrabel\u2019s crew. The Patriots have two days of joint practices scheduled with the Vikings (Wednesday and Thursday) before suiting up for preseason game No. 2 on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m. EST).<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, we\u2019re not expected to see the marquee matchup of wide receiver Justin Jefferson vs. Christian Gonzalez this week, as both players are easing their way back from hamstring injuries. But for players looking to lock down starting jobs or make a final case for the 53-man roster, the stakes are high for New England against Brian Flores, Kevin O\u2019Connell, and a Vikings team with few weaknesses on paper.<\/p>\n
Fans might roll their eyes at this stat, but according to Pro Football Focus, Bradbury was the highest-graded Patriot in the Commanders game. TreVeyon Henderson obviously stole the show, but Bradbury pitched a perfect game, scored a 92.4 run-blocking grade, and allowed zero pressure on five pass-blocking reps, per PFF.<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll look to build on that performance this week against the Vikings, the team that drafted him with a first-round pick in 2019 but dumped him this offseason to make room for veteran Ryan Kelly. Bradbury arguably has the most to prove this week, not only to his current team as New England\u2019s starting center, but to his former coaches and decision makers in Minnesota.<\/p>\n
Dugger dropping on the Patriots\u2019 depth chart is probably the biggest storyline in camp right now. He started in the preseason opener, but was running with the second unit in the very next practice. That\u2019s telling. Ascending rookie Craig Woodson is definitely part of the story, but so is Dugger\u2019s $15.2 million salary cap hit this year, per Spotrac.<\/p>\n
His trade value is tanking, and he’s among the highest-paid players on the Patriots’ roster. It’s hard to see the team releasing a player that it just signed to a multi-year extension, but everything is on the table for Dugger right now. If anyone needs a resurgent week on this team, it’s him.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s not much to debate among the Patriots\u2019 top five receivers. Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Kayshon Boutte are all going to make the team. The only remaining question is whether New England keeps six (or more?) at the position.<\/p>\n
The battle for the No. 6 spot is now squarely between Baker and Chism, with Ja\u2019Lynn Polk looking more and more like a candidate to be stashed away on injured reserve. The Patriots want to keep Baker around, and his two special teams tackles on Friday have him on the right track.<\/p>\n
Chism was likely earmarked for the practice squad, but he\u2019s been impossible to ignore and could force the team to consider keeping seven wideouts on the initial 53-man roster.<\/p>\n
New England\u2019s inside linebacker group is pretty well defined at the top, with Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss the starters, and Jack Gibbens the other roster lock (as one of the team\u2019s best special teams players).<\/p>\n
That leaves a number of players vying for a roster spot, and it could come down to Tavai vs. Mapu over the final two weeks of the preseason. Mapu has the positional flexibility and special teams prowess to push Tavai off the roster. Patriots fans wouldn\u2019t shed many tears over Tavai, whose choice to rip the Gillette Stadium faithful for booing a 4-13 team was a bad look (at best).<\/p>\n
You rarely see NFL teams spend a draft pick on a kicker and not keep said kicker on the active roster that year. The reality for Borregales, a sixth-round pick of the Patriots this past April, is that he hasn\u2019t done enough to separate himself from journeyman John Parker Romo, who signed a futures contract with New England back in January. Romo nailed a 57-yard field goal against the Commanders, and while Borregales made his kicks as well, this competition is very much unsettled.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that Romo started games for the Vikings last year during Will Reichard\u2019s four-game stint on injured reserve. He\u2019ll be comfortable both at the TCO Performance Center for joint practices and inside U.S. Bank Stadium for Saturday\u2019s game. Borregales should be feeling the pressure.<\/p>\n
\nTough day for Patriots kickers.<\/p>\n
Looked like Andy Borregales went 2-for-5, including a miss at the end of the competitive two-minute period.<\/p>\n
Parker Romo went 1-for-4 in the kicking-focused portion of practice.<\/p>\n
Saw a couple of erratic snaps from Julian Ashby that led to misses.<\/p>\n
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n