The final dress rehearsal for the 2025 season arrives early this week for the New England Patriots, who head to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football (7 p.m. EST, Prime Video).
And while the national audience will tune in hoping to catch a glimpse of rookie phenom TreVeyon Henderson or second-year quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots are expected to sit their prominent starters to let those battling for final roster spots take center stage.
Opinion/analysis: The way practice ended, with starting players running sprints, and backups going through situational work, could be a tipoff to how Mike Vrabel will approach preseason finale Thursday. Probably unusual to be pushing starters like that if they were going to play.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 19, 2025
The Patriots have several roster spots up for grabs, from the offensive line to the defensive backs and beyond. While typically devoid of big-name stars, the preseason finale often makes for great NFL theater as players on the fringes of the 53-man roster look to leave it all on the field and earn a job.
With that in mind, here are seven Patriots players who fans should be watching against the Giants on TNF.
Players to watch during the Patriots preseason finale vs. the Giants
K Andres Borregales
The sixth-round rookie has a former XFL player nipping at his heels in John Parker Romo. Borregales has some pressure on him entering an unfriendly environment (and playing surface) at MetLife Stadium. This is a big week for Borregales, and head coach Mike Vrabel and company will want to see how their prospective 22-year-old kicker battles through some early adversity.
RB JaMycal Hasty
The Patriots signed undrafted rookie RB Micah Bernard this week. With Terrell Jennings and Rhamondre Stevenson both dealing with injuries, and the team highly unlikely to play Henderson or Antonio Gibson against the Giants, the opportunity is there for Hasty to build on what was a solid performance last week against the Vikings.
Patriots transactions:
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 19, 2025
🏈 Signed: RB Micah Bernard, DT Philip Blidi
🏈 Waived: CB Tre Avery, DE Jereme Robinson
NOTES: Redistributing depth due to injuries entering Thursday’s preseason finale … Bernard 47 collegiate games (421-2,298-11, and 99-770-5) … Blidi (6-3, 297)… https://t.co/k6JsnXRMVo
CB Jordan Polk
Polk was among the Patriots’ unsung standouts in the Vikings game, including a touchdown-saving tackle on special teams. He also earned some praise this week from a high-ranking rookie in Will Campbell, who told reporters that Polk “has been playing his tail off.”
The Patriots will have some decisions to make at cornerback this week, and the undrafted Polk could sway some of those opinions with a big performance against the Giants.
S Kyle Dugger
This situation just keeps getting weirder. Dugger has reportedly been demoted after both preseason games, slipping from starter to second-string, to now scout team this week.
Whether he’s auditioning for a roster spot with the Patriots or a trade to another team remains to be seen. But Dugger will likely be back on the field Thursday night for the Patriots, and that’s not a good look for either party.
Kyle Dugger was playing scout team defense today. Interesting to see him on the field with players such as Tre Avery and Brandon Crossley.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) August 18, 2025
Dugger has the second highest cap hit on the roster.
EDGE Truman Jones
Jones is hard to miss out there, sporting Teddy Bruschi’s No. 54. He’s mixed in with the first-team defense at times during camp and earned an offseason award from Mike Vrabel for his work ethic. He saw 32 reps in the Vikings game, per PFF, and should be among the more roster-worthy Patriots players on the field against the Giants on Thursday night.
S Dell Pettus
Pettus made New England’s roster as an undrafted rookie last season and has made a late push to survive cut-down day once again. He had a strong game vs. the Vikings with four solo tackles and some strong reps in coverage, per PFF. With both Dugger and Marcus Epps falling out of favor, Pettus could be the beneficiary.
IOL Cole Strange
The former first-round draft pick has reportedly been working back at center this week, per Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal. Firmly on the roster bubble, Strange will need to show the coaches something to stick on the roster in what is now the final year of his rookie deal.