Patriots
“At the end of the day, at heart, I’m a Patriot. I love being out here. I love playing. I’m looking forward to the season.”
FOXBOROUGH — It hasn’t been an easy summer for Kyle Dugger and Anfernee Jennings.
Despite both players’ standing as established veterans in the Patriots’ locker room, both found themselves stuck on the roster bubble entering cutdown day on Tuesday.
Trade rumors swirled around both Dugger and Jennings over the last few weeks as both players slid down the depth chart — with each player logging snaps well into the fourth quarter during preseason action.
But by the time Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline for roster cuts had arrived, both Dugger and Jennings remained on New England’s 53-man squad ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Even with his unsteady standing on New England’s roster, Dugger acknowledged on Wednesday that he wasn’t fretting about his future in New England as the roster cuts started to get announced the previous morning.
“If anything, you know, I was pretty neutral on it. I knew anything could happen, so that’s how I kind of where I stayed,” Dugger said. “I spent a lot of time with my family, and that was very grounding and humbling, so that’s kind of what I did. I really wasn’t thinking about it too much.
“I’m getting better every day. That’s my focus. Helping the team as much as I can. And being the best version of myself as an individual, as a leader, and for the guys around me.”
Even though Dugger was not dealt on Tuesday, that might have been more a result of his contract — as the safety still has three years remaining on the four-year, $58 million extension he signed with the Patriots.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots did field “multiple trade offers” for Dugger, but “his $9.75M guaranteed salary – and how much of it New England would absorb – was a hurdle” in those trade discussions.
For now, Dugger is staying focused on the task in front of him as he tries to re-establish himself as one of the top safeties on New England’s roster.
“It’s helping the team as much as I can,” Dugger said, adding: “And being the best version of myself as an individual and a leader and for the guys around me.”
Speaking ahead of practice, Mike Vrabel mapped out why the Patriots opted to keep both Dugger and Jennings on the roster.
“I think he’s feeling better and I thought he had some really good snaps against New York,” Vrabel said of Dugger, who recorded an interception and posted two pass breakups against New York last week. “I think he can help us, and obviously, find a role. We talk to him about that, have talked to him about that. We’ll continue to talk to him about that and provide value to the football team.”
“Where we were as of now, I thought he, through his practice, through his performance in the games and the way that he competed, has earned the right to be here,” Vrabel added of Jennings. “He’ll have to continue to do that just like everybody else will.”
Jennings — who recorded three sacks during New England’s preseason win over Minnesota — could still offer plenty of value on the field as a solid pass-rusher.
But the 28-year-old veteran has had some growing pains this summer adjusting to New England’s revamped defensive scheme instilled by Vrabel and new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams.
“I learned a lot. This has probably been one of my more difficult – not difficult, but I had a big-time adjustment,” Jennings said Wednesday. “I’ve been in a similar defense since college – a 3-4 outside linebacker. Having to learn a new scheme, learning coaches, players, and how to do my job differently, it’s been humbling for me just to be able to do that. I’m looking forward to the season.”
Despite nearly losing out on a roster spot, Jennings expressed gratitude for sticking around in Foxborough.
“It means a lot,” Jennings said. “At the end of the day, at heart, I’m a Patriot. I love being out here. I love playing. I’m looking forward to the season.”
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