Three up, three down, and three players to watch in Saturday’s Patriots-Eagles preseason game – The Boston Globe
Doubs, who had a quiet start to camp, has come on strong in recent days, proving to be a reliable target, especially in the red zone. It’s clear the connection between Doubs and quarterback Drake Maye is progressing.
Said Maye: “The way he moves and kind of cuts off on some routes and can move his body side to side and get by people is really impressive — and it’s really fun to watch. He’s only going to continue getting better and better as he gets more comfortable in this offense. He has made some great climb-the-ladder catches, so I’m looking forward to just keep giving him chances to climb the ladder, and he will come down with it.”
Swing tackle Marcus Bryant: After last season, Bryant’s future with the Patriots seemed unclear. Drafted in the seventh round in 2025, Bryant was the first tackle off the bench when Morgan Moses exited the Week 12 game, but then never saw the field again and often remained a healthy scratch.
When the Patriots drafted tackles Caleb Lomu and Dametrious Crownover, it felt as though Bryant could be on the roster bubble this year. But Bryant (6 feet 7 inches, 320 pounds) has stepped up and taken advantage of his reps, faring well during practices and in the preseason opener. Given Lomu’s inexperience, it seems plausible that Bryant could be the team’s top swing tackle to start the season.
Linebacker K.J. Britt: Britt popped during the preseason opener, forcing a fumble while tackling a scrambling Anthony Richardson. He proceeded to build off of that performance in practice, aided by the fact that starter Christian Elliss has been limited and Chad Muma, who is also in the mix to join the linebacker rotation, was absent for an extended stretch.
If Britt can continue to play with the level of aggressiveness he’s shown as a run defender, he could be in line for a defensive role in addition to special teams.
Right tackle Caleb Lomu: Growing pains are expected for Lomu, who has struggled at times in pass protection and one-on-one drills. Lomu has earned reps with the starting offense because of Moses’s load management plan, producing mixed results. It’s understandable coach Mike Vrabel was hesitant to kick Lomu in at guard, despite the team’s limited depth.
Lomu has expressed the right attitude about his ups and downs, saying after Thursday’s practice, “It’s never going to be perfect. I’m excited to go see what I need to fix, talk it over with the coaches, and get back on the field again.”
Patriots’ depth: The starting offense shined Wednesday before coming back to earth Thursday. The starting defense also held its ground, forcing multiple turnovers across the two days. But there were a couple of positions (e.g. offensive line) where the level of competition clearly became lopsided in Philadelphia’s favor when backups went against backups.
The Patriots experienced extremely fortunate injury luck last season and could be in big trouble if that’s not the case again.
Cornerback Charles Woods: Christian Gonzalez’s prolonged absence has provided multiple opportunities for Woods, Kindle Vildor, Karon Prunty, and Channing Canada. Woods, who played 117 defensive snaps across 15 games last season, initially looked to be the favorite for the top backup on the perimeter behind Gonzalez and Carlton Davis. But since returning Aug. 15 from an apparent injury, Woods has gotten beat, badly, on multiple occasions by both his own teammates and Eagles receivers.
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte: A potential landing spot has emerged for Boutte after Texans wide receiver and 2025 second-round pick Jayden Higgins suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Boutte, who has remained a good soldier throughout camp, seems open to playing elsewhere this season. Will the Texans make the Patriots an offer?
Kicker Andy Borregales: The second-year man has kicked well during practice, but he missed three field goals in the preseason opener. Vrabel made it clear Borregales has to be able to convert those kicks, while also noting the absence of long snapper Julian Ashby (ankle) may have affected the operation last week.
Running back Jam Miller: Even though the competition for the third running back spot hasn’t generated much buzz, Miller seemingly took the biggest step forward with 14 carries for 55 yards. It will be worth watching to see if that workload continues for Miller against the Eagles. The Patriots could instead make Hassan Haskins, JaMycal Hasty, or Lan Larison the lead back in order to get a longer look at a different rusher.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com. Follow her on X @nicolecyang.