Thursday was a good night for the Patriots, as they capped a week in Philly with a 35-0 win over the Eagles in preseason game No. 2.
The Patriots got contributions from pretty much everyone up and down the roster, including a few players who appear to be battling for roster spots.
And with the second preseason game now in the books, there’s just the two joint practices with the Giants and the preseason finale to show they are deserving of a roster spot.
Here are five players who helped their chances of making the team Thursday night.
RB J.J. Taylor- Taylor was outstanding, finishing with 93 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while also adding three catches out of the backfield. Going into the game, Taylor was off some roster projections, but it’s hard to keep him off following a performance like this. It could be a matter of keeping Taylor over Brandon Bolden.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson- The rookie was impressive once again, as he recorded 66 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Stevenson runs extremely hard and is showing the coaching staff he’s deserving of playing time. While he wasn’t ever in danger of being cut, it seemed like he was in line for a red-shirt year and that may no longer be the case.
LB Harvey Langi- It’s going to be an uphill battle, but Langi was very impressive in the win. The linebacker was all over the field, finishing with five tackles, a sack and an interception (while dropping another). He obviously knows the system well, so if the team is looking for another depth player at linebacker, Langi could be the guy.
LB Cassh Maluia- While it’s likely a long-shot for the sixth-round pick to make the roster, Maluia gave the coaching staff something to think about. He finished with four tackles and a sack, as well as made some contributions on special teams.
WR Gunner Olszewski- Olszewski’s roster spot was never in danger, but his four-catch, 57-yard performance showed he's deserving of more consideration when it comes to having a role in the passing game. He’s been relatively quiet to this point in the summer, but that changed Thursday. If he can emerge as a wide receiver, it could potentially push N’Keal Harry or Kristian Wilkerson off the roster.