FOXBORO, Mass. — Bill Belichick hasn’t been particularly forthcoming about the team’s plans for Thursday’s preseason opener (no surprise there), but the New England Patriots coach did say the team’s less experienced players will get the lion’s share of the playing time.
That means we shouldn’t expect to see much (if anything) from Mac Jones, Matthew Judon and the presumed first-teamers.
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Still, even if that group doesn’t play at all, there’s plenty to follow when the Pats take on the Texans in the first of three exhibition games (the only one at Gillette Stadium). This will be a chance for rookies and players on the roster bubble to make an impression. So with that in mind, here are nine players to follow Thursday night.
RB Kevin Harris
In a bit of a surprise, Harris has gotten more meaningful snaps in training camp than Pierre Strong, the back who was drafted two rounds earlier last year. But with Ty Montgomery injured, Harris has been the running back who has benefited the most.
If he plays well, he can solidify the No. 2 job behind Rhamondre Stevenson and prove to the Patriots brass that they don’t need an experienced (and likely more expensive) veteran like Ezekiel Elliott. But if he struggles, there could be more pressure on Belichick to find someone who can give Stevenson a break.
WR Tyquan Thornton
We outlined already Thornton’s slow start. To put it mildly, it has been a rough opening two weeks of training camp. But preseason games carry more weight than late-July practices. With a good performance against the Texans, Thornton can quickly put behind him the struggles of the start of camp.
That said, he hasn’t looked like one of the team’s best three wide receivers so far. On some days, he doesn’t look like one of their top five. But Thornton should get plenty of playing time Thursday. A year ago as a rookie, Thornton played in only one preseason game and suffered a broken collarbone, which resulted in a slow start. With a better result against the Texans, Thornton could flip the narrative around him.
OT Sidy Sow
A few weeks ago, it seemed Sow was going to have plenty of time to learn how to play offensive tackle in the NFL after spending the last four years playing left guard at Eastern Michigan. But the fourth-round pick has been thrust into immediate action and has a chance to climb the depth chart.
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That’s because Calvin Anderson remains on the non-football injury list, Trent Brown’s participation has been limited and Riley Reiff and Conor McDermott have struggled trying to protect the quarterback. That leaves an opening for Sow if he’s able to turn in some impressive performances.
LB/S Marte Mapu
The breakout defensive player of training camp has worn a red non-contact jersey throughout camp, so it’s not clear whether he’ll be green-lighted to play Thursday. But if he is, follow him closely. He has blown away coaches with his study habits and impressed teammates with his knack for finding the ball. He has played multiple positions on the defense and has a chance to be a major disruptor.
Té is in NE 👏@5Marte_ | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/4vLaAPtAWk
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 5, 2023
WR Demario Douglas
If Mapu has been the breakout star on defense, Douglas has been the most pleasant surprise on offense. He has gradually earned more and more playing time with Jones and has been making the reps count. His spot on the Week 1 depth chart will be dependent on whether he can translate his success on the practice field to preseason games. If he does, the sixth-round pick has a chance to not just make the team but earn immediate playing time.
K Chad Ryland
I’ll admit, it may not be riveting to watch a kicker, but the big-legged Ryland is in the driver’s seat to end veteran Nick Folk’s four-year tenure in New England. Both Ryland and Folk have been good in training camp, but Ryland has the stronger leg. And if the competition ends in a tie, the guess here is that the Pats would roll with the player they traded up to grab in the fourth round.
WR Kayshon Boutte
A week into camp, things weren’t looking good for Boutte. It was easy at that point to write him off, especially as it seemed clear why he fell to the sixth round in the draft despite being a highly touted high school recruit who thrived at LSU as a freshman. Boutte even admitted he had gotten off to a slow start.
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But since then, the 21-year-old has made impressive plays at nearly every practice, including a one-handed grab in the back of the end zone that was one of the most impressive catches of the summer. If he and Douglas both play well, they could force Belichick to keep six wide receivers on the roster.
Kay + Pop.@KayshonBoutte1 | @popshotta3 pic.twitter.com/j0Tx6IoL2l
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 16, 2023
DL Keion White
He may not get as much playing time this season as Mapu or first-round pick Christian Gonzalez, but the team’s second-round selection is quietly putting together a decent camp, including a couple of would-be sacks during practice this week.
It is worth noting that White’s recent success has come against a banged-up Patriots offensive line. But if he can keep up that level of play in the preseason, White could force his way into additional playing time on a very good defense.
QB Malik Cunningham
In the days leading up to Thursday’s opener, Cunningham suddenly started seeing more time at quarterback after opening camp primarily as a wide receiver. It’s unclear whether that’s because Cunningham wants a shot under center or because Belichick doesn’t want to play Jones and Bailey Zappe much, creating the need for another option at the position beyond Trace McSorley. Either way, it’ll be fun to see what Cunningham can do at quarterback — especially since he has only had a couple of days of practice there as a pro.
(Photo of Kevin Harris: Fred Kfoury III / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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