Head coach Mike Vrabel’s 91-man roster left an impression Friday night at Gillette Stadium.
That impression began at kickoff. The New England Patriots didn’t look back from 7:30 p.m. ET on, defeating the Washington Commanders by a score of 48-18.
Here’s what went into the 2025 preseason opener.
Maye and Dobbs scramble to the end zone
After Tom Brady’s statue was unveiled, three Patriots quarterbacks saw the field. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft would be the first. Drake Maye completed 3-of-5 passes in his first start of August. The rising sophomore stayed in for a pair of drives against Washington, throwing for 12 yards. He added 16 rushing yards, beginning with an 11-yarder to move the chains and continuing with a touchdown jog down at the goal line. A strip-sack was how the first series ended, however, with defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and safety Quan Martin collecting what was nearly a throwaway.
By the 3:13 mark in the first quarter, it was time for backup Joshua Dobbs to enter the huddle. The well-traveled veteran, signed in March, stayed in to go 5-of-12 passing for 45 yards. And on fourth-and-goal with halftime nearing, a circuitous scramble here, there and everywhere resulted in a 27-3 advantage.
Undrafted rookie Ben Wooldridge closed things out for the Patriots in relief. The former transfer from Fresno State to Louisiana handled snaps from the third quarter through the fourth quarter. He didn’t look out of place, finishing 9-of-12 for 132 yards and a touchdown through the air. Chunk connections of 26 and 33 yards to under-the-radar receivers John Jiles and Jeremiah Webb were among them.
Chism paces New England’s wide receiver room
New England’s depth chart currently stands 11 deep at wide receiver. And with Stefon Diggs and Kendrick Bourne serving as spectators, the first snap under the Friday night lights went to fellow veteran Mack Hollins, who began training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
But the lone member to catch a pass by intermission was undrafted rookie Efton Chism III. The sudden slot out of Eastern Washington went back-to-back for 14 yards in hurry-up mode. On fourth down and first down, respectively, he later worked downhill for a 12-yard touchdown and a 20-yard slip screen. A team-high eight targets, six receptions and 50 yards were the result.
By then, Ja’Lynn Polk had entered the blue medical tent and locker room after an end-around resulted in a pickup of one and a hard landing on his right shoulder. Another 2024 draft choice in Javon Baker made his presence felt with two tackles as a gunner on special teams. As for No. 69 overall pick Kyle Williams, the Washington State speedster garnered four targets in his preseason debut, gaining separation on a go ball as well as a slant into the end zone to no avail.
Back deep and elsewhere, Henderson’s explosiveness is hard to hide
The first kickoff was enough for TreVeyon Henderson’s 4.43 speed. From the left sideline to the right sideline, the No. 38 overall pick out of Ohio State took it the distance. The distance proved to be 100 yards for a 7-0 lead. He’d take his first touch from scrimmage for 18 yards while drawing a facemask penalty, too, and later broke a tackle to move the chains on a reception in the flat.
The Patriots opened the preseason with Rhamondre Stevenson at running back. The incumbent starter quickly took three consecutive handoffs, including a third-and-1 conversion, and went on to log 36 yards across seven carries.
Former Commander Antonio Gibson spelled in for 37 scrimmage yards while adding a 62-yard kickoff return for his own spark on special teams. Further down the backfield depth chart, Terrell Jennings plunged in for six in the final frame to make it a 41-11 advantage. UDFA Lan Larison soon lowered his shoulder to make it 48-18 on a toss to the left.
Three rookie starters on the offensive line
The starting five became a game of musical chairs for the 2024 Patriots. The combinations hit double digits. The production hit rock bottom. Only there wasn’t much semblance of the past on Friday for offensive line coach Doug Marrone & Co.
LSU’s Will Campbell started at left tackle. Georgia’s Jared Wilson started at left guard. They’d be involved in an early, drive-ending twist, but also edge-sealing gains. Over their shoulders, it was Garrett Bradbury at center, Mike Onwenu at right guard and Missouri’s Marcus Bryant at right tackle. SEC rookies taken at No. 4 overall, No. 95 overall and No. 220 overall in the company of experience.
Sixth man Ben Brown checked in at center, then left guard and then center again. Last year’s signing off the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad proceeded to be joined by Tyrese Robinson at left guard, Cole Strange at right guard, as well as the aforementioned Bryant and Demontrey Jacobs taking turns as swing tackles. It wasn’t a seamless transition, but a single sack was in the cards for New England’s pass protection by evening’s end. Pregame warmups did not feature linemen Morgan Moses, Vederian Lowe, Sidy Sow and Caedan Wallace.
The case to remain behind surehanded veterans Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper isn’t closed yet. But by the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline, the third tight end on the Patriots will be known. Friday’s exhibition provided a glimpse.
I-formation sent Jack Westover in for “13” personnel to begin the outing as a de-facto fullback, and the January 53-man roster promotion stepped back into that role through the fourth quarter for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Also involved at the point of attack on a touchdown run was rookie Gee Scott Jr. out of Ohio State. Yet the lone member of the tight end depth chart to haul in a pass would be Jaheim Bell, who broke free on a play-action bootleg to pick up 18 yards before halftime.
While 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels’ evening ended in pregame workouts, the evening was just getting underway for the Patriots’ defensive front.
Keion White, Milton Williams and zero-technique offseason award winner Khyiris Tonga started against the Commanders. At outside linebacker, so did another honoree, Truman Jones, a former Harvard captain who notched two tackles on defense, two tackles on special teams and multiple third-down pressures, setting up an interception.
Pushing for a rotational role off the edges behind the likes of Harold Landry III, K’Lavon Chaisson and Anfernee Jennings — who worked beyond halftime — Bradyn Swinson could be on his way. Converting speed to power, the fifth-rounder from LSU bulled into things to send the punt unit on. The contributions in the kicking game from Cal Poly’s Elijah Ponder should also factor into the equation.
Rising up the cornerback ranks
Attrition hit at cornerback in the early weeks of training camp. And with reigning All-Pro Christian Gonzalez and veteran Carlton Davis III both managing ailments, an extended look loomed for those behind them.
Alex Austin, who posted a run stuff and a fading breakup into the end zone from the slot, opened alongside Marcus Jones. They were part of a secondary that started safeties Jabrill Peppers, Kyle Dugger and Jaylinn Hawkins. Then D.J. James, who spent last campaign on the practice squad, joined them by the defense’s initial third down. Late in the opening quarter, the 2024 Seattle Seahawks sixth-round pick clicked and closed to intercept quarterback Sam Hartman on a ball intended for wideout Michael Gallup. He returned it 11 yards.
Not lost in the mass substitutions was Jordan Polk. The rookie free agent out of Texas State got under a tipped pass for his first NFL interception in the third quarter. New England’s depth chart lost Marcellas Dial Jr., who amassed 364 snaps on special teams last season, to injured reserve with a torn ACL shortly after the calendar reached August.
Kicking duel down to the wire
The kicker battle between a January futures signing and an April draft investment has stayed close through a dozen practices. It’s also largely stayed through the uprights.
More of the same was seen in the preseason opener. Holdover John Parker Romo went 1-of-1 on field goals, delivering from 57 yards away, plus 3-of-3 on extra points. Rookie Andres Borregales went 1-of-1 on field goals, chipping from 22 yards away, plus 3-of-3 on extra points.
A good problem for Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer to have. The pair alternated kickoffs.
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