10 things we’re watching in Patriots’ preseason finale vs. Giants

If the Patriots’ final practice on Tuesday before their preseason finale against the Giants is any indication, don’t expect to see many – or any – of the starters Thursday night.

Quarterback Drake Maye and the rest of the starters received a heavy workload in Tuesday’s practice, finishing off the session with sprints. In the past, the third preseason game was one last chance for starters to see the game field before the start of the regular season. Now, with a shortened preseason and an increase in joint practices, the third preseason game is a chance for players on the roster bubble to prove they deserve a spot.

Here are 10 assorted thoughts before Thursday’s third and final preseason game:

• The following players didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday this week: running back Terrell Jennings, wide receivers Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, Efton Chism III, Ja’Lynn Polk and Kyle Williams, tight end/fullback Jack Westover, linebackers Cam Riley and Jahlani Tavai, outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings and cornerback Christian Gonzalez. It would be a surprise to see many of those players suit up against the Giants, though ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported that Baker, who’s fighting for a spot on the roster as a potential seventh wide receiver, is making the trip.
• Among that list of players, Terrell Jennings, Baker, Bourne, Polk, Westover, Riley and Anfernee Jennings still appear to be fighting for roster spots. Bourne and Polk now have been injured for weeks and could be injured reserve candidates. Tavai has barely practiced all summer despite passing a physical before training camp. He could be another IR candidate.
• It’s a big night for third-string quarterback Ben Wooldridge. The undrafted QB out of Louisiana was an afterthought during spring practices, but he’s actually had a solid summer in his limited practice reps. In two preseason games, Wooldridge has completed 16-of-25 passes for 187 yards with a touchdown. There’s value in keeping a third quarterback on the roster, especially one like Wooldridge who has spent so much time in the offense this summer. If the Patriots do keep a third QB, however, it would come at the expense of depth at another position like wide receiver, offensive line, outside linebacker or in the defensive backfield. If Wooldridge continues to impress in Thursday night’s game, the Patriots would have to weigh the risk that he could claimed on waivers before signing him to the practice squad.
• It would be smart for the Patriots to get one final long look at the offensive linemen competing for roster spots. It appears that tackles Demontrey Jacobs, Vederian Lowe and Jack Conley, guards Mekhi Butler, Layden Robinson, Tyrese Robinson, Sidy Sow and Caedan Wallace, center Alec Lindsrom and guard/center Cole Strange are vying for two or three spots behind center Garrett Bradbury, center/guard Ben Brown and Jared Wilson, guard Mike Onwenu and tackles Will Campbell, Morgan Moses and Marcus Bryant. Out of the group of 10 roster bubble players, we see the real competition between Jacobs and Lowe and Sow, Wallace and Strange. That would be our starting offensive line group on Thursday night with both Lowe at Jacobs rotating at both tackle spots, Wallace at left guard, Sow at right guard and Strange at center. Strange also should see some reps at guard with Lindstrom at center. It’s a little surprising that definitive winners have not emerged from those groups yet.
• If Anfernee Jennings plays Thursday night, then his snaps are certainly worth monitoring since he’s played deep into two preseason games. Safety Kyle Dugger is in the same boat. If he’s still out there in the fourth quarter, then his days could be numbered on this roster.
• More players we haven’t mentioned who could benefit in their final gameday push for a roster spot: tight end Cole Fotheringham, linebacker Marte Mapu, cornerbacks Kobee Minor and Jordan Polk, and safties Dell Pettus and Marcus Epps. Fotheringham spent time with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on the Raiders and will likely see action at fullback. Mapu still brings athletic potential in his transition from safety to linebacker. Minor was the final pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and has got his hands on the ball in coverage. Polk got shoutouts from Campbell and head coach Mike Vrabel this week. He’s a reserve nickel back who could potentially steal a spot on the roster as an additional defender and special teamer.
• One last game for kickers Andres Borregales and Parker Romo to battle it out before Tuesday’s cuts. Romo has been better in games – he hit a 57-yard field goal while Borregales shanked his attempt. But Borregales was drafted, and Romo wasn’t. They’ve been pretty equal in camp. The ball does seem to come off of Romo’s foot better at times.
• Some names and numbers to keep in mind, because you’ll likely see a lot of them on offense: Wooldridge, 17, running back Micah Bernard (No. 22), running back Shane Watts (No. 30), wide receiver John Jiles (No. 83), wide receiver Phil Lutz (No. 16), wide receiver Jeremiah Webb (No. 29). Jiles and Webb are longshots for roster spots, but they’re solid, dependable targets for Wooldridge and could land practice squad spots.
• Bernard and Lutz were just signed this week. The Patriots also added defensive tackle Philip Blidi (No. 55) on Tuesday.
• Just a thought: Would Vrabel use the final preseason game to let someone else handle play-calling duties? Bill Belichick did something similar in 2017, allowing Chad O’Shea to call offensive plays and Brian Flores to handle defensive coordinator duties. The top candidates would be tight ends coach Thomas Brown and inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr. Then again, Vrabel could decide that McDaniels and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams still need their own practice.