The New England Patriots have managed depth in their secondary this season due to injuries. But with reserve defensive back Dell Pettus starting to make an impact, the Patriots have a great option to turn to in critical moments.
After starting the season with the release of veteran safety Jabril Peppers and then trading Kyle Dugger at the trade deadline, it seemed like the depth was going to be too thin at the safety position. The Pats signed John Saunders Jr. from the Miami Dolphins practice squad and signed free agent Richie Grant to their practice squad.
Pettus was signed by New England as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He earned a role that gave him 341 defensive snaps (31%) and 231 special teams snaps (53%), recording 34 tackles, two pass break-ups, and a sack. He hasn't wasted time proving himself to head coach Mike Vrabel and a new coaching staff that he’s worthy of being on the team in 2025.
In doing so, Pettus has been primarily used on special teams this season, logging 205 plays (74%) and showing his versatility within the varying units that he’s part of. But in recent weeks, Pettus is starting to get on the field more often for defensive snaps and he’s really taking advantage of his opportunity.
In Week 11 against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football, Pettus was on the field for nine defensive plays, per Pro Football Focus, making a strong impact on each one.
The big play that is going to stand out is at the end of the game, where Pettus made the game-ending tackle on fourth down to force an incomplete pass and turnover on downs. It should be highlighted that he was on the field for that entire defensive run for the final red zone sequence of the game for New England.
There's no reason why he shouldn't be on the field more often after a performance like that. Additionally, Pettus also finished the Week 11 outing with season-high PFF grades in:
- Overall defense: 90.3
- Pass rush: 58.4
- Coverage: 88.7
After the game, when addressing his team in the locker room, Vrabel praised Pettus for stepping up and taking advantage of his opportunity, while the team clapped for him.
“I would say you can file Dell (Pettus) under the guys that just take advantage of their opportunity. I would file Dell under a guy that takes advantage of his opportunity, so we know what leads to more opportunity.”
Dell Pettus Deserves More Playing Time After Patriots Praise
Patriots captain and defensive leader Robert Spillane also praised Pettus during his postgame press conference, saying that Pettus prepares like a starter to be ready for his moment to contribute to the team.
“Somebody who is so consistent, reliable, and has shown up at big points this year. Huge play on Kyle Pitts the other week. Comes up huge for a game-winning play for us on fourth down," Spillane said. "I can’t say enough good things about him. He comes every day looking to get better, preparing to win, and preparing as a starter. So when you make plays in this league, you tend to get more opportunities to make more plays. So, we’re excited to see where it goes.”
What I noticed about Pettus’ usage throughout the game was that he was primarily only used on third down until the final defensive stand at the end of the game. I clocked six of his 10 total plays being on third down. It shows that the Patriots had a plan for him, and it worked well for them.
In the time that Pettus was on the field, he went in the game for linebacker Jack Gibbens to provide a more versatile option to defend the pass while also staying strong against the run. There was a play in the first quarter where Pettus blitzed on a 3rd & 6 and almost sacked Jets quarterback Justin Fields, but he was just a step too late.
That said, Pettus was often in the middle of the field covering tight ends Mason Taylor (6’5”) and Jeremy Ruckert (6’5”). Although the Patriots have struggled to defend tight ends, Pettus matched up well against them in this game. It's worth it for the New England coaching staff to explore similar opportunities moving forward. If it works, great. If not, the Pats can always revert.
As Vrabel said in the locker room, Pettus took advantage of his opportunity, and there should be more to come as the season progresses. Hopefully, he keeps capitalizing on those chances to help the Patriots' defense live up to its potential.