The Patriots quest for a perfect preseason ended with a 42-10 loss to the Giants at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands on Thursday night.

Although we'll get to the film for those who did participate on Thursday night, a bigger story from the preseason finale is who didn't play. Based on the official gamebook, 35 Patriots didn't see the field vs. the Giants. By my count, 29 of those players will likely make the initial roster. Along with the healthy scratches, five players likely missed the game due to injuries: LB Anfernee Jennings, LB Jahlani Tavai, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Ja'Lynn Polk and RB Terrell Jennings. Lastly, rookie Andy Borregales handled all the kicking duties, leading to a DNP (coach's decision) for veteran kicker Parker Romo.

The last housekeeping item is that head coach Mike Vrabel announced 14 transactions as the Patriots began trimming the roster down to 53 players on Friday morning. Those transactions were: LB R.J. Moten, DT Kyle Peko, RB Shane Watts, DB Jordan Polk, TE Jaheim Bell, QB Ben Wooldridge, CB Isaiah Bolden, G Tyrese Robinson, TE Cole Fotheringham, RB Micah Bernard, WR Phil Lutz, LB Monty Rice, G Sidy Sow and DT Philip Blidi.

Now that the housekeeping is out of the way, it's fair to be uncertain about the depth of the Patriots roster. With the second half mostly serving as an audition tape for players competing for practice squads or to catch on elsewhere, Vrabel hinted that New England will be active leading up to Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline to trim the roster to 53 players. When asked how he feels about the roster heading into the regular season, here was Vrabel's response following Thursday night's loss to the Giants:

"We're going to continually try to strengthen the roster every way we can. There's a couple options, right? You can trade for players. You could try to claim some players next week. We're always going to be trying to strengthen the roster. That's what we'll try to do here over the course of the next 10 days."

From this perspective, the areas on the roster that could use reinforcements are the offensive line, linebacker, and backup quarterback. Now, the last few players on the 53-man roster won't make or break a team's season, and the top half of the Pats roster is improved. Still, injuries are inevitable, and until this regime gets multiple offseasons under its belt, roster depth, especially for Vrabel-type players from a scheme perspective, remains a work in progress.

Let's dig into the film on notable defenders who played and quick-hit film notes from the Patriots loss to the Giants in Thursday night's preseason finale.

Tape Breakdown: Keion White, Kyle Dugger and Marte Mapu

Although we usually start with the offense, the Patriots defense played the more noteworthy game due to the notable participants on the defensive side of the ball.

With the offense resting most regulars, projected contributors such as safeties Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger, edge rusher Keion White, and recent high draft picks vying for roles played on defense. Most notably, former third-rounder Marte Mapu continued his transition to linebacker after starting his career at safety. Peppers played 23 snaps because the team wanted to see him alongside rookie Craig Woodson, per Vrabel, so that was more about getting tape on what could be the Pats starting safety tandem in Week 1 (more on Woodson later).

As for the others, Vrabel explained White playing 30 snaps as an opportunity for the third-year pro to "work on some things" in the preseason finale. Although it doesn't appear that his roster spot is in jeopardy, White's exact role is still up in the air. Last week, he was replaced on the top unit by camp standout K'Lavon Chaisson, who, along with vet Harold Landry, didn't dress. White played exclusively on the edge from a three-point stance, alternating lining up outside both tackles, logging three pressures and a run stuff. White beat a tight end's block to log his run stuff, while his quarterback hit came on a ghost-rip move where he flashed a long arm and pulled it away to dip around the right tackle.

White had a few disruptive plays, but besides bull-rushing tackles, White needs to continue adding tools to his toolbelt to become a more impactful rusher off the edge. We know he can win in the pass rush on the interior, but the Pats aren't taking stud DTs Christian Barmore and Milton Williams off the field on third down, so White has more opportunities to log meaningful snaps as a 4-3 defensive end in this defense.

On another note, Dugger, who has appeared to fall down the safety depth chart this summer, looked like a starter playing against backups. Coaches and teammates have spoken about a long rehab process for Dugger from offseason ankle surgery, which appears to be behind him based on how well he moved in his most recent tape. While playing deep into the second half, Dugger made six "plus" plays by my count, including multiple sound coverage reps as a deep safety, an area of needed improvement.

For example, Dugger is playing the post-safety role in a cover-three defense above. The Giants ran a post-cross concept with the crosser coming from the opposite side of the formation, forcing the outside corner (Crossley) to Dugger's left to fall off the post. The Pats safety stays at home on the post, knowing Crossley's assigned to the crosser, and prevents a deep completion.

This time, the Patriots appear to be in man coverage where they're cutting crossing routes with Dugger as the free defender over the top. When S Marcus Epps falls off Jalin Hyatt's deep over, Dugger is there to leverage the route in the end zone to prevent a touchdown.

Next, New England has played more quarters (cover four) structures during the preseason under Vrabel and DC Terrell Williams. Quarters coverage is becoming more popular to take away the deep shots associated with West Coast offenses who feast on putting post safeties in conflict. Above, Dugger matches a vertical route from the No. 2 receiver to his side of the formation, which is the tight end in this case. Dugger blankets the tight end in the seam, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball, resulting in a one-yard scramble.

Lastly, Dugger's interception came in a man coverage scheme where he was playing as post-safety help over the top. The interception was an easy layup on a miscommunication between the Giants quarterback and receiver, but Dugger is positionally sound once again to take advantage.

Earlier this summer, Vrabel hinted that Dugger was still assimilating into the Patriots new defensive system. Although it's a preseason game vs. backups, you can still tell when a defender is playing assignment sound and use the eye test to gauge how they're moving on the field. From this vantage point, Dugger was borderline dominant for stretches on this film, which is what you'd expect for a starting-caliber safety playing against this level of competition. With the contract notwithstanding, Dugger appears to be one of the Patriots best 53 players.

Along with their veteran safety, another recent draft pick who showed well in Thursday night's preseason finale was Mapu. As mentioned, Mapu began his pro career as a hybrid safety, but the new staff has converted him to a traditional inside linebacker. Mapu's ability to cover running backs and tight ends, either out of the backfield, in-line, or flexed out wide, stood out. He also had three tackles against the run, including a stuff, playing at the second level of the defense.

Barring a trade, Dugger likely sticks around now that he's catching on more physically and mentally, while Mapu could make the roster as a coverage linebacker and special teamer.

Film Notes - Offense

- According to Vrabel, the team is waiving undrafted rookie QB Ben Wooldridge. Wooldridge made the most of his preseason reps in the first two games, but going wire-to-wire vs. the Giants was more inconsistent for the undrafted rookie. Wooldridge had three passes batted down at the line and some bouts with erratic ball placement. That said, he mostly made solid decisions, with the pick-six being more on the receiver not sitting vs. zone than on the quarterback, from this vantage point. Plus, Wooldridge made "plus" throws to John Jiles (dig in dagger concept) and Jeremiah Webb (blaze out, go ball) on the Pats lone TD drive. There were roughly half a dozen throws where Wooldridge's accuracy was less than ideal, and the batted passes are a repeat issue. It's interesting because he's listed at 6-foot-3 and has a smooth throwing motion, which usually lends itself to solid accuracy. We'll see if Wooldridge returns on the practice squad.

- The Patriots started this game with Jared Wilson (LG) and Ben Brown (C) on the interior offensive line, two linemen who could factor into their starting five this season. After a shaky preseason opener, Wilson has settled down with plus blocks in pass protection (1-on-1 vs. Elijah Chatman) and in the run game (generated movement) in his 10 snaps. Brown was less consistent with a delayed pickup on a line stunt (batted pass) and a missed block at the second level on a draw. Brown's ability to block on the move and in space remains a question mark, while Wilson will get tested by post-snap line movement if he starts right away.

- WR Javon Baker might've done enough with his practice flashes at receiver and special teams contributions, making another play as a gunner in punt coverage on Thursday night. However, the tape on offense remains shaky for Baker, who had back-to-back negative plays with a run TFL (missed crack block) and an offensive pass interference penalty. Baker's second target was thrown behind him, but the first one could've been caught by finishing through contact, and he wasn't creating noticeable downfield separation vs. the Giants backups. Baker was one of my favorite picks from the 2024 draft class, but the receiver film remains inconsistent.

- Based on participation, rookie tackle Marcus Bryant is the Pats top swing tackle, followed by holdover Vederian Lowe (OT4), with Bryant playing seven snaps at left tackle and three plays at right tackle on Thursday night. Bryant has enough play strength and foot speed to be a solid backup, but his pad level remains uneven, allowing bendy edge rushers to dip underneath him. He was also called for an illegal formation penalty after lining up in the backfield at left tackle. Lowe had a clean sheet in pass protection with snaps at both tackle spots (18 at RT, 17 at LT).

- G Caedan Wallace replaced Wilson at left guard, playing the rest of the way on Thursday night (49 snaps). Wallace mostly held his own with some impressive reach and second-level climbs. His timing and body control on double teams and second-level climbs need fine-tuning at guard, but he has the range and power. Wallace only allowed one hurry when a rusher got into his outside edge (bull rush) on one of the batted passes. Overall, Wallace might be worth continued development at guard. His shortcoming is that he's a one-position backup on the interior.

- Fourth-year pro Cole Strange repped at center in his 32 snaps, where he continues to look like a developmental player at the pivot. Strange has flashes at center, mainly an impressive zone reach block on the nose tackle shaded in the A-Gap, where he completely turned out the defender, but he was also on the scene for two run stuffs and allowed a QB hit. From this perspective, his hold was more on Wallace, who came off a double team too quickly. Strange could swing to all three interior spots, which gives him positional versatility, but he's a project at center and lost reps to Brown this summer.

- WRs Jeremiah Webb and John Jiles flashed at times this preseason, but the Giants coverage mostly had the upper hand on downfield routes. Jiles is a sturdy hands catcher with some size, while Webb has some speed to separate downfield. It would be nice to get both receivers back on the practice squad, especially given the run of injuries at the position.

- TE/FB Jack Westover is the favorite to make the roster as the third tight end/fullback. Westover had a nice zone lead block on a nine-yard rush early in the game, and his ability to adjust on the fly as a lead-blocker has caught the eye. That said, the depth behind Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper was disappointing this summer, with nobody emerging as a pass-catching threat from the Westover, Bell (waived), Scott, Dippre, and Fotheringham (waived) group. Tight end will be a need we discuss in the 2026 offseason.

- QB Pressures: Sow (3 hurries), Strange (QB hit), Jacobs (hurry), Lindstrom (hurry), Conley (hurry), Wallace (hurry).

Film Notes - Defense

- S Craig Woodson continues to progress as a versatile backend coverage defender. Woodson forced an incompletion on a deep corner route from his perch at post safety, played perfect trail technique to undercut a deep crosser by the tight end to help force a sack, and chased down WR Gunner Olszewski to limit the damage. Woodson is assimilating well as a coverage defender, making him a solid complement to Peppers.

- Rookie DT Joshua Farmer began flashing more over the final two preseason games with his length and power to dent the pocket. Farmer made a nice run stuff by press-and-shedding to discard the right guard and powered through the right guard to log his pressure. Farmer has some tools to work as depth on the interior behind Barmore, Williams and Tonga.

- DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. tied for the team lead with three pressures. He has played more in the preseason than a regular contributor normally would, but someone has to play, and he has been impactful in his snaps.

- Undrafted rookie EDGE Elijah Ponder logged two pressures with a ghost-rip move and a speed-to-power rush that dented the edge. Ponder has good length and some juice off the edge, while the coaches have praised his contributions on special teams.

- LB Jack Gibbens is a physical downhill run defender who can press blocks and fit gaps in the run game. He could be a situational run-stuffer alongside starter Robert Spillane, replacing smaller coverage linebackers in goal-line and short-yardage packages.

- QB Pressures: Gibbens (sack), Pharms (3), White (3, QB hit), Peko (3, QB hit), Ponder (2, QB hit), Farmer (1), Ritizie (1), Swinson (1), Blidi (1).

- Coverage: Minor (7/5/79 yards/TD/PBU), Polk (7/5/58 yards), Gibbens (2/1/50 yards/TD), Pettus (3/3/16 yards), Bolden (2/1/14 yards), Epps (3/3/14 yards/2 TDs), Riley (1/1/13 yards), Battle (3/2/12 yards/TD), Dugger (4/2/11 yards/INT), Rice (1/1/11 yards), James (1/1/5 yards), Crossley (PBU), Mapu (PBU).

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer