The first NFL Preseason game tends to disappoint fans. Everyone is hungry for football after a long hiatus, and the game only provides a short teaser of the actual starters. But that doesn't mean it's not a crucially important game.
You may not see much of the starters, but what you will see are players fighting to climb the depth chart, or to even save their jobs with the team. The recent shift in the structure of the NFL offseason (cutting rosters down to 53 all at once, rather than in stages) changes the dynamic a bit, but if a player falls far enough behind early you can assume they're as good as gone.
These three Patriots could be facing make-or-break situations in Thursday's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers.
1. Bailey Zappe
The buzz around Joe Milton outplaying Drake Maye earlier in training camp didn't actually mean anything for the Maye-Jacoby Brissett situation at the top of the depth chart. But it does mean something for Bailey Zappe.
The Patriots aren't likely to carry four quarterbacks on the roster, and Brissett and Maye's jobs are obviously safe. That means one spot is up for grabs between Milton and Zappe.
Zappe would generally be considered an early favorite — teams tend to favor veterans at the start of camp. There's also something to be said for having a quarterback at the end of the bench with NFL experience under his belt.
But Milton, a sixth-round rookie out of Tennessee, seems to have passed Zappe on the depth chart already. He's a raw prospect, but at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds with a strong arm and plus rushing ability, his upside could make him worth hanging on to.
Zappe needs to be lights-out in the preseason to get the edge back in this competition. If his experience doesn't lead to his outplaying MIlton in live preseason action (especially Milton's first ever apperance), there's not going to be much hope of him reclaiming his roster spot.
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.
3. Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts has been trying to carve out a role for himself on the Patirots' defensive line since being a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Despite the team not having a ton of depth on the interior, Roberts has rarely earned much playing time, appearing in just 12 games (making 1 start) over two seasons.
Christian Barmore being on the shelf due to his blood clots has opened up more of an opportunity for Roberts, but Davon Godchaux's contract extension does solidify the defensive tackle spot.
The offseason signing of Armon Watts could also be trouble for Roberts. The addition of a veteran with 22 career starts does signal a ton of faith in the existing reserves.
Reports from training camp make it seem that Jeremiah Pharms is probably outplaying Roberts at this point, and it's going to take a big showing on Thursday to prove that he should still be ahead of Pharms and leap Dan Ekuale on the depth. chart.
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