A changing of the guard on the defensive side of the ball for the New England Patriots may be occurring right in front of the eyes of fans during training camp.
Whenever a franchise makes wholesale coaching changes, new opinions will arise regarding the fit of the players under contract from the previous regime. With Mike Vrabel and company now calling the shots in New England, one key veteran already looks like he is on the outside looking in at a position where he had been a regular starter for the last four seasons.
Things can still change between now and Week 1, but based on reporting from Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston, veteran safety Kyle Dugger is now looking like a reserve, at best, for the Patriots moving forward.
Kyle Dugger looks like a reserve safety for the Patriots.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 11, 2025
Was a while before Dugger got reps against the scout-team offense. When he did, it was brief and with CBs Miles Battle and Kobee Minor.
Jaylinn Hawkins, Jabrill Peppers and Craig Woodson all in earlier than Dugger.
6th-Year Patriots Vet Kyle Dugger Appears to Be on the Outs at Practice
It can be tricky to decipher where veterans stand in position battles during training camp. Sometimes, they require less time on the field to give the coaching staff a sense of just how dependable they will be once the stakes are raised and the outcomes of games truly matter.
This is what makes the ongoing situation with Kyle Dugger so interesting. The former second-round pick has started every game he has appeared in since the 2021 season, but for two. Now, he is having trouble even cracking the rotation at practice, as Perry noted above.
That raises the question of where Dugger fits within the franchise's plans moving forward. Considering how many of his peers are now getting practice reps in training camp sooner than he is, one could assume that the vibes are not at their highest in Boston at the moment.
Throughout 74 career games played, which included 65 starts, Dugger has recorded 424 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and nine interceptions. If he can find a way to get back to that level of production, the odds are strong that he'll make the roster and serve some kind of role in New England.