Bryce Baringer is officially off the field for the Patriots, and it went down fast. The guy left Saturday’s preseason game against the Eagles after punting just twice. The wild part? New England had to send their backup quarterback, Behren Morton, to finish out the game handling punting duties. Seriously, a starting QB as your emergency punter? That’s not a play you draw up for any NFL team. It screams panic.
The Sideline Surprise
This isn’t some minor sideline thing for the Patriots. Baringer has been their punter for the last three seasons, a consistent presence on special teams. To see him walk off the field after only two kicks against the Eagles? That’s gotta sting for the team and the fans. Head coach Mike Vrabel tried to keep it vague right after the game, only saying Baringer “wasn’t feeling great” as the explanation for the abrupt change. “Wasn’t feeling great” for a specialist leaving mid-game tells you something is definitely off.
“It’s Serious Enough” and What Comes Next
Then came Monday, and Vrabel didn’t hide the gravity of the situation, even if he kept the details locked down. He came out and flat-out said, without getting into specifics about the injury, that “it’s serious enough.” Boom. Those are the words that send a shiver down your spine if you’re a Patriots fan. When your head coach uses those exact words, and follows it up by saying the team will “likely be signing a punter,” you know Baringer isn’t coming back anytime soon. This isn’t a wait-and-see situation. Baringer’s been reliable, with a career net average of 41 yards per kick. Losing that kind of steady leg, especially when you’ve got a backup QB stepping in as a temporary fill-in, is a massive blow to special teams. You can’t just plug anyone into that spot and expect the same results.
So, yeah, the hunt is officially on in New England for a new punter. This isn’t some small deal either. Special teams are everything, especially when you’re fighting for field position in tight games. Having a consistent punter who can flip the field is an absolute game-changer. The Patriots need to move fast, finding someone who can step in and contribute immediately. The regular season is right around the corner, and nobody wants a scramble for a specialist when games really count. Keep an eye on who they bring in.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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