3 Patriots Playing for their Jobs in Preseason Week 1

2. JaMycal Hasty

The running back position is another that's basically set at the top. Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson are going to play big roles in this offense. That leaves the RB3 spot up for grabs, and the team might even carry four running backs if the players can earn it.

The training camp leader for the RB3 role appears to be Kevin Harris, and undrafted rookie Terrell Jennings is the easy cut candidate. That puts JaMycal Hasty firmly on the roster bubble.

The Patriots are Hasty's third NFL team in just four pro seasons, and being a 28-year-old journeyman running back who hasn't produced anywhere is going to make it hard to stick on a roster.

At that age, teams aren't going to keep you around for what you might be capable of. They won't be patient to see what kind of upside you have. Impressing in practice simply won't be enough.

Hasty needs to come out and impress when the lights are on against the Panthers if he wants any hope of competing with Harris for that third running back spot. And if Harris plays well, Hasty is going to need to be incredible if he wants to convince Jerod Mayo that it's worth having four backs on the 53-man roster.