A 42-10 loss in the preseason might not count in the standings, but it was an indictment of the New England Patriots' players on the roster bubble. After Thursday's game against the New York Giants, Mike Vrabel and his staff wasted no time cutting players who were not up to snuff.
The Patriots made 14 cuts, bringing them closer to finalizing the 53-man roster that they will carry into the regular season.
Patriots cut 14 players after preseason loss
It's time to put the preseason behind us and move on to real football. That's the message Vrabel is sending his team with this massive trimming of the roster.
Per Pro Football Talk, "The Patriots are parting ways with linebacker R.J. Moten, running back Micah Bernard, wide receiver Phil Lutz, defensive tackle Kyle Peko, tight end Cole Fotheringham, running back Shane Watts, defensive tackle Philip Blidi, quarterback Ben Wooldridge, defensive back Jordan Polk, linebacker Monty Rice, guard Sidy Sow, tight end Jaheim Bell, defensive back Isaiah Bolden, and guard Tyrese Robinson."
None of these moves come as a complete shock. For the most part, these players entered the preseason with slim chances to make the final roster.
Perhaps the most disappointing cut is tight end Jaheim Bell. Bell, a former seventh-round draft pick, has the potential to be a real contributor, but he's hardly made an impact with the Patriots. Last season, he caught just two passes for 20 yards. There was speculation about a bigger role for Bell in 2025, but he failed to take advantage of his preseason opportunities.
Guard Sidy Sow has also been a disappointment since New England took him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Sow has the power to hold up as a run blocker, but he's been horrific in pass protection for the Patriots. He started one game in 2024 and allowed four pressures and one sack.
Ben Woolridge had a chance to make the roster as the team's third quarterback, but Vrabel opted to only carry two passers into the season.
Some of these players will end up on the Patriots' practice squad, and some may get picked up by other teams. New England has until Tuesday to finalize its 53-man roster. In the coming days, the front office and coaches will mull over the players truly on the roster bubble in pursuit of building the most competitive team possible for 2025.