The first preseason game of the offseason is never expected to be very flashy or to carry much weight for any particular player or team.
So, for the Patriots, this isn't exactly a litmus test just yet, but more of an evaluation of where they are at this stage of the summer and whether any player can stand out for all the right reasons.
Because there are plenty of roster battles going on, there will be a clear focus on those groups. The depth players will have a chance to shine, no matter how limited their snaps might be, and it could become the difference between staying on the team another week or being cut by Friday.
Taking advantage of the opportunities given to them and standing out for all the right reasons will be crucial in determining their future, especially in positions with the deepest rosters at this point, putting these three players at the top of the list under the most pressure to perform early and often.
Depth chart players can inch closer to secure roster spot with a good performance vs. the Colts
RB Terrell Jennings
The starting running backs have long been known: Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are going to be the 1-2 punch for Drake Maye. But beyond the two stars is up in the air, creating a major opportunity for someone like Terrell Jennings.
He has been with the Patriots for the last two seasons and has had limited chances to get on the field, resulting in just 106 rushing yards and a touchdown in that span. However, given his experience in the league and the fact that he is the most compared to his immediate counterparts, he could use that to his advantage to secure a spot on the team with a solid preseason showing.
The problem is that he is actively competing against Lan Larison, who shined last summer before suffering a season-ending injury, and Jam Miller, a shifty rookie with a lot of potential.
They'll presumably get some reps in this game as well, lighting a fire under Jennings a little more, which can serve as motivation to give his best performance. If he can accomplish that, he could lock up a spot on the roster a lot sooner than expected.
If not, it's hard to envision him staying put for much longer.
WR Efton Chism
The competition within the wide receiver room is apparent, as with the running backs, with the top two roles clearly held by A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.
The rest of the depth chart isn't as up in the air as the running backs, given that Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, and Mack Hollins have all made a tremendous impact on the team already this summer and last season. But that leaves the rest of the group up for grabs, with Efton Chism actively looking to carve a role for himself in one way or another.
There's good reason to believe his biggest competition is with Kyle Williams, a 2025 third-round draft pick who has, by all accounts, fallen behind so far at training camp.
The pair are going to be neck and neck for the rest of the month, while also battling it out for a role on special teams, so there are plenty of reasons to keep a close eye on how they look against the Colts and over the next two weeks.
Chism, however, doesn't have the safety net of being a draft pick as Williams does, making it a bit easier for the Patriots to cut him if need be. That makes it all the more important for him to impress when on the field, much like he did last year, and hope that's enough to round out the receiver room this season.
CB Kindle Vildor
The battle within the cornerback room has been widely overlooked this offseason, mainly due to Carlton Davis and Christian Gonzalez being among the best duos in the league, with Marcus Jones right behind them.
But like the rest of the toughest competitions across the team, who will make up the rest of the depth chart is the biggest question, and that opens a door for players to steal the spotlight, like Kindle Vildor.
The 28-year-old joined the Patriots this offseason, and given that he is going into his seventh season, he has a leg up on some of his immediate competition, and that could be the biggest factor that swings in his favor.
He is already projected to be near the top of the depth chart at outside corner, and if he can string together some standout plays against the Colts on Thursday night, there's no reason to believe he can't make the team.
But he will be actively competing against some others who have stood out for various reasons so far this summer, mainly Kobee Minor and rookie Karon Prunty. Given that he has been in the NFL a bit longer, he will likely get the most time on the field this week, and that's an opportunity he can't afford to flub.
Add us as a preferred source on Google