With just one preseason game left after the matchup with the Vikings, those on the Patriots roster bubble are running out of chances to prove why they would be a valuable part of this year's 53-man roster. There are only so many practices left to beat out the competition, especially since several positions are far more competitive than anyone could have anticipated.
That includes several parts of the defense, with one of the main positions being safety. The thought going into the offseason was that Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers were going to remain as the 1-2 punch of the secondary, as they have for the past few years. But Dugger, who signed an extension just last year, has fallen behind and now resides on the bubble, hoping to make the team.
Mike Vrabel admitted as much earlier in the week, as it was apparent Dugger was relegated to the second-team defense rather than the starters. And things didn't look much better for his immediate future in New England during the game against the Vikings on Saturday, as he remained in the game deep into the fourth quarter.
Kyle Dugger was still on the field for that last drive for the Patriots. Anfernee Jennings, who played to the end last week, wasn't. Jennings has multiple sacks in this game.
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 16, 2025
Anfernee Jennings had a similar fate last week, as he, too, is competing for a spot in a very crowded pass rusher group. That seems to imply that Dugger is much further down the depth chart than he was projected to be, and doesn't make his chances of making the final roster look all too promising.
The downfall of Kyle Dugger with the Patriots is difficult to understand
After the 2024 season concluded, it was reported that Dugger's poor performance could likely be attributed to a misdiagnosed injury that he played through during the year. He received treatment for what he was really dealing with at the start of the offseason, and there was a lot of optimism that his game would turn around this summer.
Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case so far, and as a result, he has been demoted in favor of those who were further down the depth chart.
While that isn't a great sign for his Patriots' future, it is good to see other young players the team has invested in thriving and actively competing for not only a spot on the roster, but a starting role on the defense.
It also means that Dugger could still be used as a trade piece ahead of the regular season, as he had long been considered a top safety in the league. That might not be the case now, but that doesn't mean that a team in need of a safety won't be interested in acquiring him for a late-round pick. The only hope is that if the Patriots decide to do that, they will be proven correct far sooner than later.