The Patriots are in Cleveland to face the Browns in their preseason finale, and ahead of the game, Mike Vrabel hinted that no starters would suit up on Thursday night. It would be the first time in many years that no starters took the field for a preseason game, not even for one snap, and the immediate reaction to that decision has been mixed.
Given that several starters across the league have already suffered injuries, and it's fair to argue that the Patriots don't have a deep roster, it's probably best that their top players don't participate just 13 days before their Super Bowl rematch with the Seahawks.
At the same time, it is a risk, since their starters won't get any real game reps ahead of Week 1, and that could become a problem.
Regardless, 38 players were seen on the sideline at the start of the game in street clothes, a drastic difference from just one week ago, and there's a good chance those are players who should be considered roster locks just a few days before cuts need to be made.
The Patriots might have revealed their easiest roster locks in the preseason finale
Other than keeping their starting quarterback out for the game, the Patriots kept out a long list of others, too, some of whom are a bit surprising.
Typically at this stage of the offseason, the roster locks are fairly easy to determine, while the rest are a bit more subjective. Based on those watching the game rather than playing in it, it shows how much the coaching staff values them.
Wide receivers:/tight ends A.J. Brown, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Romeo Doubs, Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon
Running backs/fullbacks: TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, Reggie Gilliam
Offensive line: Will Campbell, Ben Brown, Morgan Moses, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Mike Onwenu, Greg Van Roten, Jared Wilson, Marcus Bryant, Lorenz Metz, Mehki Butler
Defensive line: Dre'Mont Jones, Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Harold Landry, Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Cory Durden, Elijah Ponder, Xavier Holmes, Khalil Jacobs
Secondary: Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Kevin Byard, Brenden Schooler, Charles Woodson
For the most part, these names aren't all that surprising, as most are returning starters or were signed to be just that.
But others, mostly those on the defensive line, are the contrary, especially since many of them didn't make much of an impact throughout the summer. It's possible they're viewed more as primary backups to build depth, which would make more sense.
Yet there are plenty of players in the same situation playing against the Browns.
So for now, we don't know too much more than we did before this game started. However, the coaches' decisions give us a little insight into what might be coming over the next few days as roster cuts loom.
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