The Patriots had a league-high eight players opt out of the 2020 season, including Patrick Chung and Dont'a Hightower, but that doesn't mean these two veterans haven't done what they can to help the team.
This week rookies Kyle Dugger and Anfernee Jennings acknowledged Chung and Hightower have helped them this season.
“(Chung) definitely still chimes in and helps out,” Dugger said earlier this week via video conference. “(He) gives a lot of tips and things to look for when going into the game. So any time he chimes in, I’m definitely always listening and trying to pick up whatever he’s telling me.”
Dugger has played a role very similar to Chung as even though he's a safety, he's lined up in the box on a number of plays and has been tasked with covering tight ends.
Meanwhile, Jennings and Hightower have a connection as they both played for Nick Saban at Alabama.
“Our relationship wasn’t temporary,” Jennings said. “I look forward to working with him eventually. Any time I have anything I want to talk to him about or anything he wants to speak to me and give me knowledge about, he don’t hesitate to hit me up, and I don’t hesitate to hit him up. We talk. We have a relationship.
“Guys like Ja’Whaun Bentley and John Simon, LG [Lawrence Guy], those guys also have been great mentors in my development as a rookie. I can’t leave them out. But Dont’a, he’s always been up for me, and I look forward to it.”
Both Dugger and Jennings have seen increased playing time as the year has gone on.
