MORSE: Practice 17 Notes and Updated Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection

No Report on Practice #16 since it was just a walkthrough, but here are some notes along with some thoughts following Monday’s Practice #17:

Attendance

Absent: Christian Gonzalez, Ben Brown, Kobe Prentice, Xavier Holmes, and Kyle Dixon

PUP/NFI: Harold Landry and Brenden Schooler

Returned: Christian Barmore returned to practice and was limited

Linebacker Christian Elliss and edge rusher Jesse Luketa both left practice early on Monday.

Practice Notes

Play of the Day – Long Bomb from Drake Maye to AJ Brown on a 70-yard TD pass – Mike Reiss

Up next, the Patriots will hold a walkthrough on Tuesday before welcoming in the Eagles for two very important joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday.

Passing

Drake Maye: 4/5 in 7s, 15/17 in 11s

Tommy DeVito: 4/4 in 7s, 7/12 in 11s

Behren Morton: 3/4 in 7s, 1/4 in 11s

Vrabel ended practice on a 2-minute drill where the team needed a Field Goal to win the game. Maye completed 5 passes to Brown, Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Boutte, and Rhamondre Stevenson to set up a 40-yard Field Goal. “Two-minute drive,” Boutte said. “Big time players make big time plays in big time situations. It’s simple.” – Mark Daniels

On the O-Line Depth – “Well, I think we have to be able to evaluate the younger group and see what they do here this week and in a competitive setting and then also in the game,” Vrabel said. “And then always keep our eyes open to what it looks like around the league.” – Mark Daniels

Aug 11, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams (97) walks to the practice fields during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images — **(PHOTO: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)**

One-on-ones

Milton Williams quickly got inside on Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Bradyn Swinson and Gabe Jacas both took advantage of LT Caleb Lomu’s low hands (think Vederian Lowe), swiped them down, and easily sped around him.

Mehki Butler was no match for Leonard Taylor.

Big Day for Maye, his most impressive of Training Camp.

DT Leonard Taylor: 2 sacks on the team, and a decisive win. – Greg Bedard

Hassan Haskins was decidedly RB3 today

Gabe Jacas and Namdi Obiazor got reps with the 1^st team Defense today – Andrew Calahan

Karon Prunty had a nice pass break-up on Kayshon Boutte. He was with him step for step. – Alex Barth

Active practice for Elijah Ponder today. I had him with two pressures and a run stuff. – Evan Lazar

Andy Borregales goes 3-of-5 today, back working on the skinny goal posts with a long of 50. First miss likely would have been good on regular posts. He then capped off Drake Maye’s one-minute drive with a make from 40 yards. -Brian Hines

Patriots Reportedly Sign OG Greg Van Roten

As first reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Greg Van Roten has agreed to terms with the Patriots. The 36-year-old is a veteran of 12 NFL seasons and 105 career starts.

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound blocker can play both Guard and Center and was the starting Guard for the NY Giants last season.

A 2012 UDFA out of Penn State, he has played for the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Las Vegas Raiders. Van Roten has also played two seasons in the CFL.

Van Roten received a 64.5 PFF grade last season, which was good for 35^th of 81 Guards in the league.

This transaction does not appear officially on Patriots.com, and there is no subsequent corresponding transaction.

Despite guard deficiency, Caleb Lomu stays at tackle: Vrabel said a couple of weeks ago that first-round pick Caleb Lomu would see reps at guard. That has not happened — he was at second-team left tackle today while Marcus Bryant moved to the right side — but Vrabel said Lomu getting guard reps still could happen. – Greg Bedard

Guard Andrew Rupcich, who was placed on injured reserve by the team, does not have a season-ending injury (MCL sprain). If/when he reaches an injury settlement with the team, he can re-sign with the Patriots three weeks after he’s available to the other 31 teams (if it’s a four-week settlement, he can sign with the Patriots after seven weeks). A similar situation happened with RB Terrell Jennings, who was placed on waivers with an Injury Settlement on Sunday.

Patriots Starters May Not Play Saturday

There is a real possibility that the Patriots starters will not play any snaps in the game on Saturday Night. More emphasis is put on the joint practices. This really sucks for the fans that are paying good money to attend these games. That’s two home Pre-Season games and no starters in either! I don’t care if they are reduced prices. They should be free, but the owners get 100% of the sales from these games and don’t have to share it with the players.

The third Pre-Season game, the starters never play because teams don’t want to risk injury before the season starts.

Updated 53-Man Roster Projection (post Preseason Game #1)

QB (2) Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito

Cut: Behrens Morton. He had a good two-minute drive to set up a potential game-winning field goal, but Borregales shanked it. Practice Squad as the 3^rd QB.

RB (3) Rhamondre Stevenson, Lan Larison, TreVeyon Henderson

Cut: Jam Miller, Ja’Mychal Hasty and Hassan Haskins

I still have Larison over Miller. Miller may have had better rushing stats, but he missed an easy swing pass that killed the opening drive. Larison had the backup OL, and they were putrid. This number is more on the offensive line than on Larison. His 6 catches led the team, and he had a 15-yard screen called back. Two other throws by Morton were thrown in the ground. If he came out of the game with 9 receptions, there would be no doubt that he was the leader.

Also, Larison, not Miller, was on the 1^st team Kickoff Return team. Hasty and Haskins played well with little preparation. Both should clear waivers and, as veterans, would become Free Agents. Miller, Haskins, and Hasty should make the Practice Squad.

TE (3) Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, Reggie Gilliam

Tanner Arkin is the best blocker. They will try to pass him through waivers to free up a spot for someone else. CJ Dippre and Jack Westover should make it through waivers to the Practice Squad. The team may use the 3 call-ups per player (Arkin, Westover, and Dippre) to have a 3rd TE on the active game roster.

WR (6) A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Demario Douglas, Efton Chism III

I have Mack Hollins being cut with a wink and a nod. As a vested veteran, he immediately becomes a Free Agent and doesn’t have to pass through waivers. He will be re-signed immediately after the 53-man roster is established, when the team can place Harold Landry and Ben Brown on recallable IR.

C (3) Jared Wilson, Ben Brown, Greg Van Roten

G (2) Mike Onwenu, Alijah Vera-Tucker

T (5) Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Marcus Bryant, Caleb Lomu, Dametrious Crownover

Brown will go to recallable IR once he is established on the 53-man roster, dropping the OL number to 9.

DE (1) Dre’Mont Jones

DT (6) Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III, Eric Gregory, Milton Williams

Gregory is more of a NT type of player and key in short yardage / Goal Line plays. Taylor may be on the bubble

ILB (4) Robert Spillane, K.J. Britt, Christian Elliss, Khalil Jacobs

OLB (4) Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder, Gabe Jacas, Bradyn Swinson

Landry will go on the recallable IR after making the 53-man roster

CB (7) Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Charles Woods, Channing Canada, Marcus Jones, Karon Prunty, Kindle Vildor

Canada was on the 1st-team kickoff return team. He is also the backup Slot Corner.

SS (1) Dell Pettus

FS (3) Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson, John Saunders

Saunders has had a very good camp and leads the team with 3 NTs.

ST (3), Bryce Baringer, Andy Borregales, Julian Ashby

Brenden Schooler will be cut and re-signed the same way that Hollins was cut. He is a vested veteran and becomes a free agent and doesn’t have to pass through waivers.

Total Players: 53

Created with PatsPicker at PatsFans.com

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About Mark Morse

Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.

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