Throughout the preseason, it was clear the Patriots were going to have a much-improved special teams unit, thanks to the return of coordinator Jeremy Springer. He shined during his first year with the team last year, resulting in Mike Vrabel opting to keep him around to join his new staff.
It looked like the third unit would not be one to worry about for the first time in some years, especially for returns now that they appeared to have found some quality players to fill that role. But that has quickly devolved over the last two weeks, specifically around rookie kicker Andy Borregales.
Despite their better judgment and years of kickers who were drafted proving to be a mistake, Vrabel chose to take the widely considered best prospect of the class by taking Borregales in the sixth round. The Patriots certainly needed a kicker, but using a pick on one has proven to be a bad move time and time again.
His struggles have already put the team in a bad spot, with his NFL debut against the Raiders being the prime example. And now his early miss against the Dolphins further proves the concerns surrounding the decision to make him the starter instead of Parker Romo.
The Patriots look to have another kicker problem on their hands already
After an impressive opening touchdown drive that resulted in Mack Hollins' first score of his Patriots' tenure, Borregales lined up for the extra point, only to miss it by hitting the upright on the right side. He did the same thing after the Patriots' second touchdown, putting them behind two points to start the game.
Patriots rookie K Andres Borregales (a sixth-round pick) has already missed two PATs today after missing a 40-yard FG last week.
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) September 14, 2025
Last week, he missed a field goal that put the Patriots behind and contributed to their seven-point loss to the Raiders.
His inconsistency was a concern throughout the preseason, which is why the kicker competition remained tight until it was time to make roster cuts. Many thought that Romo had won the job, as he appeared to be more reliable when called upon, but because Borregales was a draft pick this year, that seems to have given him the edge for the job.
Now that's looking like an even more questionable decision with his latest miss, and Romo is already signed with another team and cannot be brought back. To make matters worse, Nick Folk is also unavailable, as he is signed to the Jets, leaving the Patriots to likely look elsewhere for a new kicker if they don't feel Borregales is right for the job.
Based on what we've seen, it might be safer to assume his spot on the roster is far from secure.