Mike Vrabel is flat-out worried about how thin the Patriots’ roster is behind the starters, and after Preseason Week 2, can you blame him? Fans are always asking, “How does my team look?” and “Does this roster look like it can win enough games to get to the playoffs?” Watching backups battle backups might not be the ideal way to get those answers, but Vrabel knows what he needs to see. He’s got guys banged up already, and the Marcus Bryant injury on Saturday night definitely didn’t help. This isn’t just a coach talking; this is a coach with real concerns.
The Depth Nightmare Is Starting Early
Vrabel straight up expressed his worry about the roster’s depth, and frankly, we’re all feeling it. History shows us why this matters so much. Remember the 2015 Patriots? They were an absolute juggernaut, ripping off a 10-0 start, but then injuries derailed everything. They finished that season with a staggering 19 players on injured reserve. Nineteen! It proves that depth isn’t just a talking point, it’s the backbone of a contender. We’re already seeing the cracks with Bryce Baringer suffering an injury, meaning they need a new punter. Plus, the offensive line injuries are mounting, which is never a good sign. The season may legitimately rest on how solidly the Patriots’ backups can hold up and contribute.
Morton and DeGennaro Shine, But Questions Linger
It wasn’t all doom and gloom though! Preseason Week 2 against the Eagles gave us some legit excitement. Rookie wide receiver Nick DeGennaro caught a huge 37-yard game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Behren Morton. How about that for a clutch play? Morton himself was named Player of the Game, leading the Patriots to victory as both a quarterback and punter. The team actually looked evenly matched with Philadelphia, which is something. But let’s be real, even with the win, there are still big questions. The team’s ability to run the ball and stop the run needs work, and some of those depth players got extended looks trying to figure that out in practice.
The big question now is whether the current crop of backups can defy the early injury trend and step up when it counts. Will the depth issues that Vrabel is so worried about actually come back to haunt them? Mark Reiss even brought up the question: will Drake Maye play next week? We’re all waiting to see how this plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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