The Patriots saw mixed results in their two days of joint practices with the Vikings this week, and now the teams are set to compete in the preseason Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
The Patriots won the day (if that’s possible in a joint practice) on Wednesday but were outmatched on offense and defense Thursday.
Since starters received so much work in the two joint practice session, be prepared to watch players fighting for jobs on the roster bubble play the majority of Saturday’s game.
Here are players to watch in a rare Patriots afternoon preseason game.
QB Ben Wooldridge
The undrafted quarterback out of Louisiana didn’t see any reps during joint practices with the Vikings, but he impressed in last week’s preseason debut against the Commanders, completing 9-of-12 passes for 132 yards with a touchdown.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about the Patriots’ backup quarterback situation Friday and whether there’s any competition between Wooldridge and Joshua Dobbs.
Dobbs threw two interceptions Wednesday but was one of the Patriots’ better players during Thursday’s practice.
“Yeah, I mean, I think Josh is the backup right now. Not that that couldn’t change,” Vrabel said. “You know, Ben’s working hard, and we’ll see. We’re always trying to strengthen the roster each and every day, but Josh is in there.
“Josh just has to be more consistent. Had an unfortunate interception in two-minute drill and throwing it into robber, and ball placement has to be better, and just the timing and all these things that we work on. So, he’s getting the same looks that Drake’s getting, and it’s not easy, but that’s not an excuse. I’m not using that as an excuse. Just saying we have to take care of football.”
WR Javon Baker
A standout in Thursday’s practice, Baker was 4-0 during 1-on-1 drills against Vikings defensive backs then caught two passes, including a touchdown in full-team drills.
Wide receivers Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte and Kyle Williams should be considered roster locks, and it feels safe to put undrafted rookie Efton Chism on any roster projections. Baker is still competing with Ja’Lynn Polk and Kendrick Bourne for a roster spot and is the favorite since he’s healthy.
The more Baker can do to prove himself on special teams will help. It would be nice to see some of Baker’s practice highlights translate onto a game field, as well.
FB/TE Jack Westover
If the Patriots are going to keep a third tight end, then Westover seems like the favorite for the role with his flexibility to play fullback in 21 personnel. It is worth noting that Cole Fotheringham, a 27-year old veteran tight end who played under Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in 2022 and 2023 with the Raiders, has also seen some recent snaps at fullback. No one loves a blocking tight end like McDaniels.
Various offensive linemen
The offensive line still seems like the most unsettled group on the roster.
To that point, Will Campbell, Ben Brown, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses, Marcus Bryant, Vederian Lowe, Tyrese Robinson, Sidy Sow, Cole Strange and Caedan Wallace all received first- or second-unit snaps in Thursday’s joint practice with the Vikings. And that list of 11 players doesn’t even include rookie Jared Wilson, a roster lock, and Demontrey Jacobs, who began the summer as the Patriots’ swing tackle.
Lowe and Jacobs seem to be competing for one roster spot. Robinson, Sow, Strange and Wallace are all competing for one or two spots.
DT Isaiah Iton
One of the more unheralded players on the Patriots’ roster, Iton is pushing for a spot on the 53-man roster. In Wednesday’s joint practice, when Christian Barmore was not participating in full-team drills, Iton was seeing first-team reps.
The 6-foot-2, 277-pound interior defensive lineman is undersized but stout in the middle of the defense.
CB Kobee Minor
There’s been more and more to like out of 2025’s Mr. Irrelevant as the summer has progressed. The rookie cornerback has been active around the ball and has some edge to him. If the Patriots keep a sixth cornerback behind Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin and DJ James, then Minor is competing with Miles Battle for the role.
S Kyle Dugger
The Patriots seem intent on only giving Dugger second-team reps in the fourth week of training camp. With Jabrill Peppers limited in Thursday’s joint practice, Dell Pettus, not Dugger, took over as the Patriots’ third safety next to veteran Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson.
Dugger has $9.75 million in guaranteed money, plus $1 million owed in per-game roster bonuses. Unlikely to find a trade partner for Dugger, there’s little the Patriots can do with the veteran safety’s contract.
Kickers
Andres Borregales and Parker Romo are still competing for the Patriots’ kicking job, and both have mostly impressed this summer.
Both kickers did have one uncharacteristically inaccurate day in practice last week, and Romo didn’t get any opportunities in Minnesota. But special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer said this week that the Patriots will pick the best person for the job, not Borregales simply because the team used a draft selection on him in April.
“I just think at the end of the day, it’s the consistent person. It doesn’t matter if you’re drafted or undrafted or you were picked up in free agency,” Springer said. “Coach Vrabel’s message is very clear: You have to earn a role. If you earn a role through consistency and showing up every day, to me, that’s the guy who’s going to win the job. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who they are, and that’s how I approach it every day.”
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