There was one game left in August for head coach Mike Vrabel’s 91-man roster.
The New England Patriots turned it into a 42-10 loss to the New York Giants on Thursday night.
Here’s a glance back on the preseason finale at MetLife Stadium as the NFL’s cutdown deadline looms back in Foxborough.
Wooldridge goes 10-of-20 from start to finish
Drake Maye threw for 58 yards through two preseason starts. There would not be another for the quarterback. It would be an undrafted rookie under center for the Patriots instead.
Ben Wooldridge completed 10-of-20
passes for 82 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The 25-year-old by way of Fresno State and Louisiana began with a three-and-out on a shallow crosser under pressure. Three batted passes were endured at the line of scrimmage during his night. But some semblance of a rhythm was found on a 14-play, 80-yard scoring drive going into the half.
Even so, the score soon read 35-10. That was the case as Wooldridge threw behind tight end Jaheim Bell in the seam in the third quarter. Giants cornerback T.J. Moore, who was later carted off, made the most of it with a pick-six from 44 yards away. On a quarterback depth chart likely to include Joshua Dobbs as the lone backup, there is a candidate to continue working with on the practice squad.
Three running backs handle 33 carries
The hay has been in the barn for Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson and No. 38 overall pick TreVeyon Henderson, who found the end zone as a returner and a rusher in his first NFL preseason. But if there was a last chance to create a fourth job at running back, it was in East Rutherford.
The night went quietly there.
Veteran JaMycal Hasty started and stayed in to rush for 30 yards on 11 carries while catching his lone target. Shane Watts, signed last week, found a crease on an outside zone and finished with a team-high 52 yards on 15 carries. And fellow rookie Micah Bernard, days into his stay, rushed for 16 yards on seven handoffs with Terrell Jennings not cleared to play.
Up in the air on the offensive line
Only seven offensive linemen appear locked into 53-man roster spots for the Patriots as the summer winds down. Rookie draft investments in LSU’s Will Campbell, Georgia’s Jared Wilson and Missouri’s Marcus Bryant stand in that tier. The same goes for vets Ben Brown, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses.
Potentially two or three openings were still at stake against the Giants. Vederian Lowe started at left tackle. Sidy Sow started at right guard. The aforementioned Wilson, Brown and Bryant joined them. A stunt on the right side of the protection soon sent the punt team on before the bookends switched sides. Another three-and-out followed.
So did shuffling. Cole Strange, who dealt with a high snap and was called for holding with a yard to go at the goal line, had subbed in at center by the fourth series. Over the former first-rounder’s shoulder by then was Caedan Wallace at left guard and preseason offensive snap leader Demontrey Jacobs on the blindside. Tyrese Robinson and Jack Conley were among the handful by the fourth quarter. A single sack was allowed by outing’s end.
Jiles and Webb lead lean receiver room
March signings Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, 2023 draft picks DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, as well as third-rounder Kyle Williams will be in the plans for the fall. And after leading New England’s wide receiver room in targets, catches, yards and touchdowns through two preseason games, undrafted free agent Efton Chism III should be, too.
That set sights elsewhere on Thursday. Especially with veteran Kendrick Bourne missing his third consecutive contest and last year’s No. 37 overall pick, Ja’Lynn Polk, reportedly set for season-ending shoulder surgery. Javon Baker dropped his first target on a third-and-10 slant. The rising sophomore couldn’t reach back to corral his next, either, yet operated as the kick returner and had a hand in a forcing a muffed punt with a strong push as a gunner.
Ex-Giant John Jiles started out wide and caught three passes for 26 yards. Jeremiah Webb also helped out at the shorthanded position with a 10-yard fade for his first NFL touchdown going into halftime. The rookie from South Dakota and South Alabama finished with three catches for 31 yards. He bounced loose for an additional 22 on his second explosive punt return in as many games.
Ironing out the edges
Veteran outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings amassed three sacks after halftime last weekend against the Minnesota Vikings’ reserves at U.S. Bank Stadium. He may have kept himself in the company of K’Lavon Chaisson and Harold Landry III by doing so. But No. 33 was not in uniform after recently being sidelined from practice.
There was more to be ironed out off the edges. Keion White, who drew a hold and generated multiple pressures, started and saw work until halftime. Cal Poly product Elijah Ponder was in the opening lineup and in on a quarterback hit soon after. Meanwhile, offseason award winner Truman Jones logged two tackles and added an assist on special teams.
The lone sack of the night arrived courtesy of inside linebacker Jack Gibbens against Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Room for a sixth seat at cornerback?
With established cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III taking a backseat, those behind them kept the things on the road in the preseason. Count Marcus Jones as well as Thursday night starters Alex Austin and D.J. James in that group.
But could there be room for a sixth man in the car? Jordan Polk entered the 8 p.m. ET kickoff with a sack, an interception and a touchdown-saving pursuit already on film in the preseason. From there, the UDFA out of East Texas A&M and Texas State recorded four tackles, broke up a pass and was called for two holding penalties. The first of which negated a fumble recovery for the Patriots.
The night required some give and take at corner. New York’s opening drive ended with a third-and-6 touchdown slant with Miles Battle in coverage. Kobee Minor later got beat on a go route by Giants receiver Jalin Hyatt for a 27-yard touchdown, yet “Mr. Irrelevant” notched a pair of pass breakups. Third-year pro Isaiah Bolden deflected a pass into the end zone in the third quarter, as well.
Dugger steps up for lonesome, crowded safety depth chart
Jabrill Peppers and rookie Craig Woodson started for New England’s safety depth chart on Thursday night. Come September, Jaylinn Hawkins and reigning All-Pro Brenden Schooler will also occupy spots there. After that, to pull from Modest Mouse’s 1997 album, it’s “The Lonesome Crowded West.”
A short week removed from being in for an interception on the final down, Kyle Dugger outlasted a pair of centerfield deep shots by Giants quarterback Jameis Winston. The 29-year-old former starter added six tackles and a backpedaling pick in the end zone on a fourth-and-4 miscommunication. It was a strong finale for a player in the trade winds just an offseason after signing a four-year, $58 million deal.
The top pick in the 2020 Patriots draft class was in next to Dell Pettus and Marcus Epps as the late second quarter became the early fourth quarter. The latter safety got caught in coverage on touchdown catches in the flat by tight ends Thomas Fidone II and Greg Dulcich.
Choose your kicker
It’s coming down to the wire for Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer. There’s been little separating the two kickers in the fold.
An April draft choice entered the preseason finale having gone 2-of-3 on field goals, including a make from 51 and a miss from 57 yards, plus 5-of-5 on extra points. A January futures signing entered it having gone 2-of-2 on field goals, including a make from 57 yards, plus 3-of-3 on extra points.
Andres Borregales pushed his first attempt against the Giants wide right from 49 away. He later converted from 30, made his lone extra point and handled every kickoff. John Parker Romo served as a spectator.