Patriots Preseason: Mac Jones Status; 3 to Watch vs. Titans

As the New England Patriots prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans in their preseason finale, Patriots Country highlights three offensive players on whom Pats fans might want to keep watch.

The New England Patriots are set to partake in their third and final preseason game of 2023 — taking their talents to Music City for an 8:15 p.m ET kickoff from Nissan Stadium in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans. 

While usually serving as the ultimate tune-up before the start of the regular season, coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots are reportedly approaching this matchup with a degree of caution. As such, several of the Patriots starters are expected to see minimal, if any, playing time. 

One player Pats fans will not see on Friday is starting quarterback Mac Jones, who will not play in the team’s preseason finale, per Karen Guregian of MassLive. Jones had been rumored to be a spectator for this matchup amid concerns over his lack of protection from the team’s makeshift offensive line. As such, backup Bailey Zappe is presumed to get the start, with both Malik Cunningham and Trace McSorley getting the majority of the snaps against the Titans. 

With final roster cut downs set for Tuesday [Aug. 29] both teams should be expected to expand upon their schemes, installations and positional matchups as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Though many Patriots players are expected to garner some attention during Friday’s matchup, here are three players on offense that might raise an eyebrow when the Pats take the field against the Titans.

Malik Cunningham

Electric, yet somewhat enigmatic, Cunningham has the chance to bolster his chances to earn a roster spot as the team’s third quarterback with a strong showing against the Titans. Though he has yet to stand out from his peers as a receiver, he may be see additional looks at quarterback based on the Pats intent to sit Jones and use Zappe sparingly. Cunningham looked poised an decisive when leading the Patriot on a 75-yard drive; rushing five times for 34 yards, while completing 3 of 4 passes for 19 yards. Should we see that type of effort against Tennessee, Cunningham may be in line to earn the Pats third spot on the quarterback depth chart. 

Matt Sokol

Based on the usage of both tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is poised to incorporate a significant amount of 12-personnel packages this season. However, with Gesicki continuing to nurse a shoulder injury, New England’s hand may be forced into carrying three tight ends. Leading the way to earn the third spot is Sokol. Despite spending much of 2022 on the practice squad, Sokol is using his system knowledge to his advantage to enhance his skill set. In addition to blocking in select packages, Sokol is also making plays in the passing game — including some impressive contested catches, and athletic, diving grabs. With a similar showing on Friday, Sokol should get the nod over fellow tight ends Anthony Firkser, Scotty Washington and Johnny Lumpkin. 

Chad Ryland

The Patriots raised more than a few eyebrows when they selected Ryland in the fourth round (No. 112 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, Ryland’s abilities to kick in the clutch, perform well in inclement weather and handle kickoffs were key factors in his selection — so much so that they were willing to trade-up to secure his services. Despite showcasing his impressive leg strength, incumbent kicker Nick Folk has actually been the more reliable of the pair throughout training camp, as well as the preseason. While Folk has been steady in his makes, Ryland has recently struggled —missing three straight field goals all sailing severely to the wide left. Though his draft status alone makes him an unlikely roster cut, Ryland is running out of time to definitively convince the team that potentially carrying two kickers is not necessary. 

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Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots

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