The New England Patriots kicked off their preseason with an impressive 48-18 win over the Washington Commanders on Friday night. Yet, the preseason is obviously less about the score and more about the individual performances. How the position battles will shake out, which players will guarantee a roster spot, and who will make a case for a starting role are more important storylines than the result of the game itself.
For the Patriots, the most pressing questions were on the offensive side of the ball. The wide receiver rotation is an especially difficult one to project. Friday's game likely only made things harder for head coach Mike Vrabel after a slew of strong performances by Efton Chism and depth options like John Jiles and Jeremiah Webb.
One receiver who has gone under the radar but may have solidified his roster spot is Javon Baker. The fourth-round pick by the Patriots from a season ago, Baker is generally forgotten in WR discussions among Pats fans. However, the latest training camp reports and preseason Week 1 suggest that Baker would be a surprise cut among the WR options.
Javon Baker Making Himself Difficult to Cut With New Special Teams Role
On Friday, Baker wasn't able to contribute on the offensive end, not registering a catch. However, he has a surprise special teams role, making the first tackle of the game in kickoff coverage. He proceeded to have another tackle on Washington's punt returner Jaylin Lane in the second quarter. After the game, Baker relished in his new role despite never playing special teams before.
Per MassLive's Mark Daniels, the second-year WR said, "Whatever coach wants me to do, I’ll just do it. Just create a role on this team. If it’s that, being a gunner, then I’ll be a gunner. Whatever they want me to be.”
Head coach Mike Vrabel was similarly impressed with Baker, saying that he was "excited and just happy for Javon"
"I think that’s fantastic. We’ve got players, especially receivers, that can create a role, and they can help you, and they can be big and physical, and everything that we see on Javon as a receiver. When you can embrace that, and they can embrace that as special teams players, guys are big and physical and fast and willing, that translates to special teams."Mike Vrabel on Javon Baker
This comes on the heels of Patriots insider Andrew Callahan's report earlier in the week that Baker had "the highest of the highs among the receivers" during training camp.
In the crowded WR room in Foxborough, Baker may not be able to carve out a big offensive role for himself. With his upside and willingness to contribute on special teams, however, he may end up earning a spot on the 53-man roster.