Patriots Project 53-Man Roster, Flagging Thin Depth Before Aug. 30 Cuts
Updated
Updated · Pats Pulpit · Aug 24
Patriots Project 53-Man Roster, Flagging Thin Depth Before Aug. 30 Cuts
3 articles · Updated · Pats Pulpit · Aug 24
Summary
Week 6 of camp has left New England projecting a 53-man roster with several back-end spots still unsettled, especially after two preseason games against Indianapolis and Philadelphia.
Thin depth is most acute on the offensive line and edge, where injuries to Ben Brown, Andrew Rupcich and Marcus Bryant have exposed limited backup options and could force the Patriots to scan outside cutdowns.
Quarterback and receiver battles remain fluid: rookie Behren Morton strengthened his case for the No. 3 job with 129 yards and a game-winning touchdown, while Kayshon Boutte is still viewed as a trade candidate.
Bubble players also helped themselves against Philadelphia, with Lan Larison pushing for a running back spot, Kindle Vildor posting two pass breakups, and John Saunders Jr. continuing an impressive summer in coverage.
The projection comes ahead of New England's final preseason game and the Aug. 30 roster deadline, when Mike Vrabel's staff must balance immediate depth needs against practice-squad risk.