The Patriots will play their second of two preseason games tonight in Philadelphia against the Eagles. They'll then be off Friday-Sunday (pace yourselves) before going strong next week ahead of the preseason finale against the Giants a week from Sunday. The schedule:
Monday: Practice, TBA
Tuesday: Practice, TBA - 4 p.m. roster cut to 80
Wednesday: Practice with Giants, 10 a.m. (open to public)
Thursday: Practice with Giants, 10 a.m. (open to public)
Friday: TBD
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: at Giants, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 31: 4 p.m. 53-man roster set
After getting their feet wet against Washington, the Patriots will ramp up the intensity against the Eagles tonight. A look at the players who need to make a push for a role on this team:
1. Mac Jones
While all things seem to be trending towards Cam Newton starting the season opener, the Patriots are still in testing mode with Mac Jones to assess what he might be capable of and when.
The Patriots know what they have in Newton. There will be no surprises. He is what he is at this point, and that's something the Patriots think they can win games with. With Jones, the progress has been slow and steady. He has mastered the basics of this system. He can be a game manager and not wet the bed on the NFL level. He can also win you games. Now is the time for Josh McDaniels to stretch Jones a bit more by calling more downfield plays. The Eagles played a lot of two shell (two deep safeties) in practices this week, so going deep might be tough, but Jones needs to test the seams and sidelines by looking off safeties and throwing with some velocity.
I would not count out Jones at this point.
2. Chase Winovich
He's finally off the injured list and hit the ground running this week in practice. With Ronnie Perkins banged up, that should mean more time for Winovich to either show the Patriots he can defend the run, or to attract other teams to trade for him at some point. Winovich is a good player and deserves to be playing more ... somewhere. Between Matt Judon, Josh Uche, Perkins, Kyle Van Noy and Dont'a Hightower — all guys who make appearances on the edge — let alone safeties Adrian Phillips and Kyle Dugger, the Patriots have plenty of options in the box. Might be best for both sides if Winovich looks good to an attacking 3-4 team and the look to add the Michigan product.
3. No. 2 boundary corner.
Does anyone want this job if Stephon Gilmore isn't healthy or satisfied by the season opener? Whether it's Jalen Mills, Michael Jackson, Joejuan Williams or D'Angelo Ross, they've all had their share of issues in camp. Expect the Eagles to go after Mills, their former teammate, who had to be moved to safety there. As for the others ... the time to halt the Patriots from trading for another cornerback is right now.
4. Kyle Dugger
The Eagles use a lot of tight ends a ton, and Dugger needs the work there. It doesn't appear the Patriots are totally settled on a role with Dugger — we know he can play in the box on passing downs, but where does he play the first two downs? — and he can help his case by bodying the likes of Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz.
5. Devin Asiasi
His rookie season was a washout, and he had Covid to start his second year. He's the only healthy tight end at this point, so it's his stage. It's his time to show that he can be the No. 3 TE to Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. Asiasi can show a lot of growth tonight. He was at a similar juncture as a rookie and kind of ran from the spotlight and was never heard from again. He's going to get a lot of chances tonight to show that he can be a reliable weapon. He needs to grab it, or he opens the door more to Matt LaCosse.