While quarterback Drake Maye unsurprisingly drew most of the attention after the New England Patriots’ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars — he turned the ball over three times and now stands at seven on the season — his performance was far from the team’s only issue. The offensive line, for example, also had its fair share of issues yet again, especially on the right side.
Not only was backup right tackle Greg Van Roten lost to a thigh injury in the second quarter, right tackle Morgan Moses also looked
hampered by the foot injury he was already dealing with leading up to the game. This plus the game’s blowout nature contributed to a change being made in the late third quarter: Moses was pulled from the contest, with first-round draft pick Caleb Lomu entering in his place.
It was the first time in his young career the rookie saw extended snaps on the offensive side of the ball after playing four snaps in Week 2 against Pittsburgh. In total, he was on the field for 26 snaps versus the Jaguars, 20 as a right tackle in place of Moses and six more as an extra blocking tight end.
However, that does not mean Lomu is now pushing for the starting job.
“Not that I’m aware of,” said head coach Mike Vrabel after the game. “I didn’t have a chance to watch the tape, but it was like, ‘Let’s get Caleb some reps.’ We were down however much we were down, a s—tload. That was just me making a decision. … It’s a long season. Morgan is 36 years old. Didn’t think we were going to come back and win the game. As much as I wished that we were, I didn’t think that we were. So, I made a decision.”
Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 35-6 loss at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium.
Offense
Total snaps: 63 | Time on the field: 27:05 | *denotes starter
LT Will Campbell* (63; 100%), LG Alijah Vera-Tucker* (63; 100%), QB Drake Maye* (51; 81%), C Jared Wilson* (51; 81%), WR Mack Hollins* (48; 76%), WR Romeo Doubs (46; 73%), TE Hunter Henry* (44; 70%), RT Morgan Moses* (43; 68%), RG Walter Rouse (41; 65%), WR DeMario Douglas (37; 59%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson* (33; 52%), RT/TE Caleb Lomu (26; 41%), RB TreVeyon Henderson (23; 37%), WR Kyle Williams (22; 35%), RG Greg Van Roten* (22; 35%), WR Efton Chism III* (16; 25%), TE Tanner Arkin (15; 24%), QB Tommy DeVito (12; 19%), C Ben Brown (12; 19%), TE Cameron Latu (9; 14%), RB Corey Kiner (8; 13%), FB Reggie Gilliam* (8; 13%)
With the game already getting out of hand in the late third quarter, the Patriots decided to mix things up down the stretch. This meant removing quarterback Drake Maye and center Jared Wilson from the contest; the two were replaced by backups Tommy DeVito and Ben Brown.
Brown entered the game as the backup behind Wilson and left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, with late-August trade acquisition Walter Rouse the backup right guard behind Greg Van Roten. When the latter went down, Rouse entered the contest over the more experienced Brown — a decision that was explained by Mike Vrabel on Monday.
Elsewhere on offense, the Patriots relied on their usual cast of characters. Two players still stand out: Tanner Arkin, who was a healthy scratch last week out-snapped a struggling Cameron Latu as the second tight end; Reggie Gilliam, who started the game and was thought to be an integral part of the offense this season, played only eight snaps all day.
Defense
Total snaps: 62 | Time on the field: 31:06 | *denotes starter
LB Robert Spillane* (59; 95%), S Kevin Byard III* (59; 95%), LB Christian Elliss* (57; 92%), CB Carlton Davis III* (54; 87%), CB Christian Gonzalez* (52; 84%), S Jaylen Reed* (52; 84%), ED Elijah Ponder* (51; 82%), ED Gabe Jacas* (49; 79%), DT Milton Williams* (41; 66%), CB Marcus Jones (36; 58%), DT Cory Durden* (32; 52%), DT Christian Barmore (28; 45%), DT Joshua Farmer (24; 39%), DT DaQuan Jones (23; 37%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (13; 21%), CB Charles Woods (12; 19%), S Mike Brown (12; 19%), ED Jose Ramirez (8; 13%), LB Darius Muasau* (8; 13%), LB Namdi Obiazor (3; 5%), LB Erick Hunter (3; 5%), CB Channing Canada (3; 5%), CB Karon Prunty (3; 5%)
The Patriots had no 100% defenders on Sunday, another byproduct of the late-game rotation caused by the game script. Among the starters pulled early was Christian Gonzalez, who was seen having a conversation on the sideline with head coach Mike Vrabel before his day ended.
As for the playing time numbers Jaylen Reed is a player to highlight. Filling in for the injured Craig Woodson, he started and effectively went wire-to-wire with the other starters. The third safety role, which was occupied by Dell Pettus before he placed on injured reserve last week, was filled by practice squad elevatee Mike Brown. That said, Marcus Jones also occasionally rotated into that position.
On the edge, where the Patriots were down Dre’Mont Jones (inactive) and Quintayvious Hutchins (injured reserve), youngsters Elijah Ponder and Gabe Jacas received a heavy workload. The two had some moments but like the rest of the defense were unable to make the game-saving plays.
The Patriots also gave their depth pieces some reps on Sunday. Backup cornerbacks Charles Woods, Channing Canada and Karon Prunty all entered the game late, as did linebackers Namdi Obiazor and Erick Hunter. Darius Muasau was in the same boat, but interestingly enough started the contest as an off-ball linebacker alongside Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss in the team’s 4-3 base grouping.
Special teams
Total snaps: 23 | Time on the field: 1:49
LB Namdi Obiazor (20; 87%), S Mike Brown (19; 83%), TE Cameron Latu (17; 74%), CB Karon Prunty (15; 65%), LB Darius Muasau (14; 61%), CB Charles Woods (14; 61%), LB Erick Hunter (13; 57%), S Jaylen Reed (12; 52%), FB Reggie Gilliam (11; 48%), TE Tanner Arkin (9; 39%), DT Cory Durden (9; 39%), ED Gabe Jacas (8; 35%), WR Mack Hollins (7; 30%), ED Elijah Ponder (7; 30%), ED Jose Ramirez (7; 30%), RB/KR Corey Kiner (6; 26%), WR/KR Kyle Williams (6; 26%), LB Robert Spillane (6; 26%), DT Milton Williams (6; 26%), DT DaQuan Jones (6; 26%), K Andy Borregales (6; 26%), P/H Mitch Wishnowsky (5; 22%), LS Julian Ashby (5; 22%), WR/PR Efton Chism III (4; 17%), OT Will Campbell (3; 13%), OT Caleb Lomu (3; 13%), OL Alijah Vera-Tucker (3; 13%), OL Walter Rouse (3; 13%), OL Ben Brown (3; 13%), CB/PR Marcus Jones (3; 13%), CB Channing Canada (3; 13%)
The Patriots went through three personal protectors last week against the Steelers, and they made another change versus the Jaguars. With neither Dell Pettus nor Craig Woodson playing in the game, and with Jaylen Reed elevated to a starting role at safety, Mike Brown served as PP for Mitch Wishnowsky’s two punts on Sunday. The role is not a new one for Brown, who has played it throughout his four years in the NFL and also in training camp.
As for switching things up, the typical return group of KR Kyle Williams and PR Marcus Jones was complemented by Corey Kiner and Efton Chism on Sunday. Kiner ran back one second-quarter kickoff 31 yards, even though it was brought back by a penalty. Chism had an 18-yard punt return on the second-to-last play of the game.
Did not play
N/A
Considering the game’s blowout nature, the Patriots decided to use their entire game day squad against the Jaguars.
Inactive
QB3 Behren Morton, TE Eli Raridon, OT Dametrious Crownover, DT Leonard Taylor III, ED Dre’Mont Jones, S Craig Woodson
The Patriots were down two defensive starters against the Jaguars, with Dre’Mont Jones and Craig Woodson both unavailable due to shoulder injuries sustained last week versus Pittsburgh. In addition, a thigh injury suffered in Week 2 kept No. 2 tight end Eli Raridon out of the contest as well.
