RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Training camp is officially underway for several NFL teams while others will be easing into camp throughout the next week.
The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers kick off the 2026 preseason with their Hall of Fame Game clash on Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC, and Week 1 of the preseason officially kicks off the following week on Aug. 13.
As we count down the days until the start of the NFL regular season — which kicks off with a Super Bowl LX rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots on “Sunday Night Football” on Sept. 9 — we continue to look at key offseason storylines for each of the league’s 32 teams.
This week, we’re looking as the players most in danger of being cut during the preseason, and we’ve arrived at the New England Patriots.
With the Patriots overhauling their wide receiver room this offseason — they released leading receiver Stefon Diggs, traded for Pro Bowler A.J. Brown and signed Romeo Doubs to a $68 million deal — there’s going to be more competition this offseason than there was last year.
With Brown, Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas locks for the 53-man roster, there may only be one spot available. And unfortunately for Efton Chism, he has to compete with Kyle Williams, Jalen Hurd, Kobe Prentice, Nick DeGennaro, and rookies Kyle Dixon and Cameron Dorner. The odds just aren’t in his favor.
One would think Westover’s versatility to play both tight end and fullback would work in his favor, but unfortunately, the Pats already have Reggie Gilliam at FB, and their tight end room is looking pretty crowded.
Hunter Henry is the unquestioned TE1, and New England grabbed Eli Raridon with its third-round pick back in April. Westover would have to beat out Tanner Arkin, C.J. Dippre, Jeremiah Franklin, and Mitch Van Vooren to win the TE3 job. I’m not saying he can’t do it, but he’s going to have to hold off younger, hungrier players to do so.
Offensive tackle was clearly a need for New England heading into the offseason, which is why the team grabbed Utah’s Caleb Lomu with its first-round pick in April’s draft. Will Campbell and Morgan Moses will likely begin the year as the starting left and right tackles, respectively, but Lomu could step in if either struggles.
That leaves Marcus Bryant, Dametrious Crownover, James Hudson, Lorenz Metz, Jacob Rizy, and Caedan Wallace to battle it out for three, maybe four spots. Wallace has appeared in just 10 games and started two during his time with the Patriots, and he played just eight snaps last year, and those came at guard. Don’t be surprised if Wallace falls victim to a numbers game.
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