Patriots
Mac Jones might sit Friday’s preseason finale out as a result of state of New England’s offensive line.
The Patriots will shut out their preseason slate of video games on Friday night time once they tackle the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Kick-off is slated for 8:15 p.m. EST.
It stays to be seen if Mac Jones and several other different featured gamers on either side of the ball will take to the sector on Friday.
However even when quite a few first-team regulars stick with the sidelines, there ought to be lots to maintain tabs on, particularly as different gamers attempt to state their case for spots on New England’s 53-man roster.
Listed below are seven issues to look at for on Friday night time in Nashville.
1. Will Mac Jones play?
After Friday’s matchup, the Patriots won’t see further snaps towards opposing gamers till the Eagles arrive in Foxborough for New England’s season opener on Sept. 10.
As such, Friday would appear like one other ideally suited alternative for Mac Jones and a few of New England’s anticipated starters on offense to get a couple of extra reps, on condition that he solely led three complete drives final Saturday towards the Packers.
However when factoring within the exhausting hits that Jones took in these snaps at Lambeau Discipline, the Patriots may decide to place their QB1 in bubble wrap till the beginning of regular-season motion.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported on Thursday morning that the Patriots are giving “sturdy consideration” to holding Jones out from Friday’s preseason finale given the state of New England’s offensive line.
After New England discovered the tip zone on its first drive of the night towards the Packers, Jones’s subsequent two sequences below middle ended with the QB getting trucked into the turf by Inexperienced Bay linebacker Kingsley Enagbare.
Each proper sort out Sidy Sow and backup left sort out Andrew Stueber had been beat clear by Enagbare en route to some punishing hits towards Jones.
As famous by NESN.com’s Zack Cox, Jones and New England’s first-team offense took 41 snaps in 11-on-11 drills throughout Wednesday’s last preseason follow, a heavy workload that would sign a while off on Friday night time.
Throughout that follow, New England’s protection logged not less than six “sacks” towards Jones throughout his cross makes an attempt.
With a 17-game slate forward of them, the Patriots may already be glad with what they’ve seen from Jones, particularly when weighed towards the chance of damage on Friday night time.
Regardless that Jones and several other starters might earn a relaxation day at Nissan Stadium, Ezekiel Elliott might doubtlessly see some snaps within the early going as he tries to shake off the rust of an prolonged layoff this preseason.
2. How will the offensive line fare?
After all, somebody will nonetheless must take snaps below middle on Friday night time for the Patriots.
And whether or not it’s Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham, or Hint McSorley, New England’s patchwork offensive line desperately wants a robust efficiency to finish this preseason on a excessive word.
New England’s porous cross safety has been the group’s most urgent concern all through the summer season, resulting in a painful night time for Jones in Inexperienced Bay and a stagnant offensive displaying towards the Texans (164 complete internet yards) within the group’s preseason opener.
Mike Onwenu’s return to follow on Wednesday will give New England a severe carry, though it’s unlikely that the beginning proper guard will get the inexperienced gentle for Friday’s recreation.
Youthful gamers like Sow ought to proceed to get seems to be at proper sort out on Friday. But when veteran sort out Riley Reiff places collectively one other sturdy efficiency at proper guard (he gave up zero pressures vs. Inexperienced Bay), it might open the door for him to remain at guard and shift Onwenu over to sort out.
3. Will rookie defenders take the sector?
Even when Jones and several other of New England’s high offensive weapons sit out on Friday, the Patriots ought to be capable to carve out heavy reps on the defensive facet of the ball for a few of their promising rookies.
After all, it stays to be seen if the group’s high defensive kids in Christian Gonzalez, Keion White and Marte Mapu will take any snaps, given their varied run-ins with the damage huge.
New England’s first-round choose in Gonzalez has been a relentless as one of many group’s beginning boundary corners for the reason that begin of minicamp. However the 21-year-old nook landed awkwardly throughout Wednesday’s follow and left the group session early. Even when it’s a minor ailment, New England will doubtless play it protected with Gonzalez and hold him off the sector Friday.
With veteran Jonathan Jones already out attributable to damage, each Jack Jones and Marcus Jones might see loads of snaps on the skin towards Tennessee, with youthful defensive backs like Shaun Wade, Ameer Velocity, and Rodney Randle Jr. incomes seems to be behind them.
Keion White was one of many vivid spots throughout New England’s preseason opener due to a relentless cross rush, however sat out final Saturday’s recreation after tweaking one thing throughout joint practices towards Inexperienced Bay.
Third-round choose Marte Mapu has been one of many extra intriguing gamers on New England’s protection due to his versatility, however he has but to play a snap in preseason motion whereas recovering from offseason surgical procedure.
4. Can Malik Cunningham construct some momentum again at QB?
After catching loads of headlines with an electrifying efficiency below middle throughout New England’s preseason opener towards Houston, Cunningham has quieted down a bit because the Patriots proceed to try to discover a function for him.
He didn’t take any snaps at quarterback final Saturday towards the Packers, though it’s unclear if New England initially deliberate to offer him any throughout the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
Saturday’s recreation was suspended with 10:29 left within the fourth quarter as a result of head damage sustained by rookie nook Isaiah Bolden, who stays in concussion protocol.
Cunningham’s stint as a large receiver hasn’t provided the identical spectacular early returns, with the rookie failing to reel in a catch towards Inexperienced Bay regardless of being focused 5 occasions by Zappe. The previous Louisville star has spent most of snaps throughout follow this week at wideout.
There doubtless isn’t any room on this roster if New England desires to maintain Cunningham simply at vast receiver. But when New England thinks the athletic QB can function a flexible asset in a number of packages and schemes, he’s doubtless price preserving round. Getting a couple of extra reps at QB on Friday ought to solidify that call.
5. Can Kayshon Boutte hold constructing?
The Patriots, as soon as admonished for not sealing the deal on a contract with DeAndre Hopkins, immediately have a great drawback on their fingers.
At this stage of the preseason, New England is staring on the very actual risk of carrying six receivers on its roster.
At present, DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Kendrick Bourne have the primary three spots locked up as established vets, whereas rookie Demario Douglas looks like a protected wager to pencil in because the group’s fourth wideout after a formidable coaching camp.
After a tough minicamp and sluggish begin in coaching camp, Boutte — as soon as a five-star recruit at LSU — was as soon as thought of an early roster-cut candidate.
However give credit score the place it’s due.
The 21-year-old receiver has seen his inventory soar over the previous few weeks, profiting from the added reps which have sprouted up attributable to accidents with each Douglas and Tyquan Thornton.
After turning on the afterburners throughout a 42-yard landing on Saturday towards Inexperienced Bay, Boutte snagged all 9 of his targets throughout his last two practices at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday.
One other stable efficiency on Friday might see Boutte even leapfrog an injured Thornton on the depth chart.
6. Will somebody win the kicker competitors?
After booting a pair of balls a mixed 120 yards on Saturday towards Inexperienced Bay, rookie punter Bryce Baringer has put himself in prime place to take the group’s beginning special-teams gig towards veteran Corliss Waitman.
However fellow rookie Chad Ryland remains to be within the midst of a spirited battle for the kicker place towards incumbent veteran Nick People.
Ryland gives the next ceiling due to his kicking power, however he has been susceptible to bouts of inconsistency this summer season. Tuesday’s follow was one to overlook for the rookie, who went vast left on three kicks from round 40 yards.
Contemplating that New England traded as much as snag the Maryland kicker within the fourth spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft, it’s unlikely that the Patriots would transfer on from Ryland if he continues to publish up-and-down returns.
However that does open the door for the Patriots to doubtlessly carry each Ryland and People on the 53-man roster going into September, relinquishing a roster spot that could possibly be used elsewhere in consequence.
7. Who can escape from the roster bubble?
With roster cuts on the horizon, now could be the time for a number of gamers on the bubble to show that they’ve what it takes to stay round for regular-season motion.
As Mike Gesicki continues to work his approach again from a light dislocated shoulder, search for each Matt Sokol and Anthony Firkser to try to make their case for a spot as New England’s third tight finish. Sokol presently holds the within edge as a blocking possibility additional down on the depth chart.
Second-year professional Sam Roberts has flashed a couple of occasions already throughout preseason motion, however he additionally has different defensive linemen like Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Man, Christian Barmore, Keion White, Deatrich Clever, Carl Davis and Daniel Ekuale forward of him on the roster. Roberts’s two pricey penalties towards the Packers received’t assist his case.
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