FOXBOROUGH - We’re three weeks into Patriots training camp.
There have been 15 practices, including a joint practice with Indianapolis, along with Thursday night’s preseason opener with the Colts.
There’s a lot to like about Mike Vrabel’s team. Other aspects, not so much.
Injuries have really started to have an impact, especially with the offensive line.
Here’s my take on who makes it on the final 53-man roster, and who doesn’t with two weeks to go until cutdown day.
QUARTERBACK (3)
IN - Tommy DeVito, Drake Maye, Behren Morton
OUT - None
Maye has had a few ups and downs over the course of the first three weeks of training camp but nothing to lose sleep over. He’s taken charge, and has a much keener grip on the offense.
DeVito has the backup role locked down. He wasn’t great on Thursday night, but he’s performed well enough in practices to seal the deal.
Morton,meanwhile, is 50-50 for making the roster. The rookie has learned the offense enough that it makes sense for the Patriots to keep three, and take advantage of the game-day ‘emergency QB’ rule.
It’s also possible the Pats cut him, and hope to get him on the practice squad. That’s an option to gain a roster spot. But for now, I have him on the 53.
RUNNING BACK (3)
IN - TreVeyon Henderson, Jam Miller, Rhamondre Stevenson
OUT - Hassan Haskins, JaMycal Hasty, Lan Larison
Stevenson has looked terrific early on. Henderson has his breakaway burst, but still hasn’t exhibited the best vision finding holes. He’s still running into tackles, but he’s working on it.
Beyond those two, it’s anyone’s guess.
Terrell Jennings looked like he was going to be the No. 3, but wound up on season-ending IR.
Haskins and Hasty were signed during the week, so it’s a bit early to get a read on them. Hasty has had different stints with the team as a reserve. For now, he’s someone to take reps.
Right now, it’s between Larison and rookie Miller who will make the 53.
At this stage, my vote would go to Miller. Mike Vrabel loved his attack hitting holes Thursday night.
FULLBACK (1)
IN - Reggie Gilliam
OUT - None
Gilliam was signed to help give the running game a boost. He’s the type of lead blocker Josh McDaniels loves in his offense.
He’s the man. Period.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
IN - A.J. Brown, Efton Chism III, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams
OUT - Kayshon Boutte, Nick DeGennaro, Kyle Dixon, Cameron Dorner, Kobe Prentice
If it was up to me, Boutte would be on the team. He’s had a good camp, and his chemistry with Maye is unmistakable. He caught another deep ball Saturday.
But it appears he’ll still be the odd man out likely via trade. It’s not practical to keep seven, so the Patriots will try and get a decent return for Boutte.
Outside of that, Brown, Doubs, Douglas and Hollins seem to be locks. Doubs has really come on of late. On Saturday, he made some ridiculously good catches in the red zone.
As for Williams, he should be classified as a lock, too.
Vrabel pretty much punched the second-year receiver’s ticket on the 53. Chism will make it as a backup slot receiver, and a special teams returner.
DeGennaro and Dorner are possible practice squad candidates.
TIGHT END (3)
IN - Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, Tanner Arkin
OUT - C.J. Dippre, Jeremiah Franklin, Mitch Van Hooren, Jack Westover
Rookies Raridon and Arkin are currently in the driver’s seat to ride shotgun with Henry.
Raridon has impressed as a pass catcher, while Arkin has made his bones as a blocker.
But there’s still time for the dynamics to change.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
IN - Ben Brown (G-C), Marcus Bryant (T), Will Campbell (T), Dametrious Crownover, Caleb Lomu (T), Morgan Moses (T), Mike Onwenu (G) Alijah Vera-Tucker (G), Jared Wilson (C-G)
OUT - Mehki Butler (G), Darrian Dalcourt (G), James Hudson III (T/G), Lorenz Metz (T), Joe Michalski (C), JonDarius Morgan (G), Jacob Rizy (C), Caedan Wallace (T/G)
The starting five is set. Beyond that, the trouble spot is guard. The Patriots don’t have much quality depth there.
On Saturday, it was learned that Brown, the top backup at center and guard, would be out for at least the rest of training camp and preseason. Andrew Rupcich, meanwhile, another depth piece at guard, was placed on season ending injured reserve.
In wake of that, Patriots added two players, center Michalski and guard Dalcourt. It’s possible one or both will make the 53-man, but it’s too early to tell. For now, they provide depth and could be practice squad material.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (5)
IN - Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Milton Williams
OUT - Isaiah Iton, Jeremiah Pharms, Casey Rogers, Leonard Taylor III.
The Patriots are strong up front. There’s a lot riding on Durden filling the hole left with the departure of Khyiris Tonga. Those are big shoes to fill.
Thus far, the group hasn’t been particularly stout against the run, which was Tonga’s forte. That area has to improve.
Pharms and Taylor are tough cuts, but the hope would be for them to land on the practice squad.
EDGE RUSHER (5)
IN - Gabe Jacas, Dre-Mont Jones,Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson
OUT - Amari Gainer, Xavier Holmes, Quintayvious Hutchins, Jesse Luketa
Landry is here for now. He still needs to come off the PUP list. But the clock is ticking.
If he’s not back, it might open a spot for Holmes or Gainer with 7th-round pick Hutchins as a sleeper given his special teams ability.
Jacas was a mixed bag during Thursday’s night’s preseason opener. Swinson, meanwhile, made some notable plays.
LINEBACKER (5)
IN - K.J. Britt, Christian Elliss, Khalil Jacobs, Chad Muma, Robert Spillane
OUT - Namdi Obiazor, Riley Wilson
This comes down to who joins the party with Spillane and Elliss.
Muma has looked like the No. 3. Next would be Jacobs, who has flashed, making a number of plays over the course of training camp.
Britt makes it over rookie Obiazor, who looks like a practice squad candidate.
SAFETY (5)
IN - Kevin Byard, Dell Pettus, John Saunders, Brenden Schooler, Craig Woodson
OUT - Mike Brown, Peter Manuma
Pettus has had a nice camp to solidify a spot behind Byard and Woodson.
And while Brown looked like a lock during the early camps, Saunders has come on of late. He has slipped past Brown on the depth chart. There’s certainly time for Brown to flip it back and land on the 53.
Schooler is on NFI and has yet to appear.
CORNERBACK (5)
IN - Carlton Davis III, Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Karon Prunty, Charles Woods
OUT - Channing Canada, Brandon Crossley, Marcellus Dial, Kenneth Harris, Kobee Minor, Kindle Vildor
This is a matter of who provides depth behind Davis, Gonzalez and Jones.
Until getting hurt, Woods was in the mix. He was back on the field Saturday in a red non-contact jersey. Rookie Prunty has impressed enough to earn a spot. He started against the Colts and saw a lion’s share of action.
Kindle Vildor is a tough cut here, although he might ultimately grab a spot.
UDFA Channing Canada looks like a practice squad addition. Ditto Dial and Minor.
Gonzalez, who is involved in a contract negotiation, is said to be dealing with an injury. He hasn’t practiced since Monday. That also bears monitoring.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
IN - Julian Ashby (LS), Bryce Baringer (P), Andy Borregalas (K)
OUT - None
Ashby missed time during the week. He was reportedly dealing with an ankle injury. He returned Saturday. The Patriots had signed Niko Lalos, but released him once Ashby got back on the field.
While Borregales has looked good during practice, he was 2-for-5 in the preseason opener Thursday night missing from 56, 55, and 49 yards out. The latter would have won the game.
Vrabel was clearly bothered by Borregales outing where it’s possible some competition will be brought in.
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