Patriots’ shallow depth faces early test after quiet pre-season
Yahoo Sports says limited pre-season exposure has left New England difficult to assess, with injuries exposing concerns along the offensive line despite promising additions at receiver.
The New England Patriots will enter their season opener with significant questions about the team’s readiness, according to a Yahoo Sports roster preview. Projected starters saw little or no pre-season action, making the group’s likely performance at the start of the season difficult to gauge.
Depth is the central concern. Head coach Mike Vrabel said after the second pre-season game: “I don’t think we have a very deep team.” Five players on the current 53-man roster have been added in the previous two weeks through trades and waivers, including a running back, a tackle, a tight end and multiple linebackers.
The offensive line has been particularly unsettled after injuries affected its second-string players. Second-year tackle Marcus Bryant is projected to begin the season on injured reserve, leaving rookie Caleb Lomu as a possible first reserve at right tackle. Other options include fellow rookie Dametrious Crownover, recently acquired Vikings tackle Walter Rouse and interior lineman Ben Brown, although several backups have limited NFL experience.
The roster has also changed at wide receiver. The Patriots added veterans AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs but traded Kayshon Boutte, while receiving second-year safety Jaylen Reed in return. Yahoo Sports describes the receiver group as the most talented the Patriots have had this decade, though that assessment remains a projection rather than an established outcome.
Hunter Henry is expected to remain the reliable tight-end target, with rookie Eli Raridon projected to serve as the second tight end after Austin Hooper signed with the Falcons. The Patriots’ early-season outlook will depend in part on how quickly a roster with limited pre-season exposure can settle into its roles.
