At the start of training camp two weeks ago, the Patriots already had a few players sidelined with injuries, most notably linebacker Harold Landry. Since then, several players have dealt with minor setbacks, particularly those in major starting roles, giving some presumed depth players an opportunity to stand out.
Among them is cornerback Charles Woods, who already impressed in his first season with the team last year after being claimed off waivers from the Rams.
Although the current roster for the secondary appears full, especially at cornerback, Carlton Davis reportedly injured his hamstring at practice at the end of July, and now Woods is among the few young players who are taking advantage of stepping up in his place.
Now that we know Davis will be out of practice for at least the next week, including missing the first preseason matchup against the Colts, Woods and others, maybe even rookie Karon Prunty, will continue their momentum and show themselves to be the reliable backups the defense needs.
So far, they have proven just that, and even another unexpected name got thrown into the conversation after Friday's scrimmage.
Backup cornerbacks are proving they're the real deal in Carlton Davis's absence
Since the moment the Patriots announced they were signing Davis, there were concerns about his longevity, since he had never played a full season in his NFL career. Those worries were valid, but he suited up for all 17 games in 2025 and had a very productive year, so it's crucial that he can get back to practice as soon as possible.
The Patriots are fortunate to have a solid cornerback room, with Marcus Jones as the primary backup, but their depth isn't the strongest after a few players have departed in recent years.
And now that Davis is dealing with an injury for the foreseeable future, players like Woods can really step up to the plate and show the coaches that they could be right next to Jones on the depth chart.
That might include a guy like Kindle Vildor, who might be a forgotten player in the big scheme of things, but he put together an impressive practice on Friday when he broke up two passes on A.J. Brown in a scrimmage. Because he's one of the best receivers in the league, any cornerback who can do that certainly deserves some attention.
This was his best practice to date, but now that he will have more chances to get on the field with Davis out, there's a strong possibility this won't be the last time we hear Vildor's name.
The same can be said about Prunty, the rookie fifth-rounder who has already made a strong impression thus far at training camp. Although expectations were low for him over the past few months, given that many analysts deemed him a reach who wasn't even on their draft big board, he has shown the kind of talent the defense needs.
They all have the opening to make the impression that they likely wouldn't have if Davis hadn't gotten injured, making the competition even stiffer as the preseason nears.
Whoever stands out the most will likely get the first start in the preseason, and that puts a spotlight on them that's only theirs to lose. If they can handle the attention and still deliver the kind of performance needed, then they might move up the depth chart right away.
It's the kind of roster battle the Patriots need, not one that was expected to warrant all that much attention. But the group has proven more explosive than anyone thought, and that's an exciting development ahead of a season in which they want to replicate last season's success.
We'll just have to wait and see who rises to to the top.
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