Studs and duds from Patriots 48-18 preseason win over Commanders
The New England Patriots came out swinging in their preseason opener against the Washington Commanders on Friday night.
It felt like a regular season game for the Patriots.
This was the first showing of the new-look team under coach Mike Vrabel. They wanted to come out on game night and make a statement, and they did so emphatically at the expense of the Commanders in a 48-18 victory.
While the Commanders opted to rest most of their projected starters, the Patriots decided to play many of their starters in the game. Some only played for a couple of drives, so there wasn't enough football from everyone to make a clear distinction between a stud or dud performance.
Who stood out in the Patriots' preseason opener against the Commanders? Here are the studs and duds from Friday's game.
STUD: WR Efton Chism III
Efton Chism III has become a fan favorite at training camp. What's not to like about an undrafted rookie who seemingly eats catches for breakfast? He was at it again in Friday's preseason opener with a team-high six catches for 50 yards and one touchdown. It was a strong effort in his bid to make the 53-man roster.
STUD: RB TreVeyon Henderson
TreVeyon Henderson scored a touchdown the first time he touched the ball in the NFL. The rookie second-round pick exploded for a 100-yard touchdown run on the first kickoff of the game. He finished the game with one carry for 18 yards and three receptions for 12 yards. In his debut, Henderson has already proven himself to be the most explosive player on the Patriots' offense.
THE FIRST TIME HE TOUCHED THE BALL IN THE NFL!!!!@TreVeyonH4 | @NFL📺: WBZ pic.twitter.com/NcT2a635nx
STUD: CB D.J. James
All D.J. James seems to do is make plays. The second-year cornerback was at it again in the preseason opener by snagging an interception and setting the Patriots up on a shortened field to add to their 14-point lead in the first quarter. He finished the game with three tackles, one pass deflection and one interception.
DJ James picks it off for the @Patriots!Stream WASvsNE on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XvZ2s922vL
STUD: ST coach Jeremy Springer
Special teams were the only bright spot for the Patriots last season. That's why Jeremy Springer managed to land a job on Mike Vrabel's coaching staff, while nearly everyone else was ousted.
The unit had a big game against the Commanders with TreVeyon Henderson's 100-yard touchdown return, and veteran running back Antonio Gibson had a return for 62 yards. The blocking on both kickoffs was superb. Springer deserves a lot of credit for his unit staying disciplined and making big plays.
STUD: WR Javon Baker
It would have been easier for Javon Baker to throw his hands up and be mad at the world that his rookie season didn't go according to plan. However, he has continued to dig deep and willingly accept whatever role is asked of him, including contributing on special teams.
Baker played on special teams against the Commanders and made two tackles in the game. With cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr. out for the season, Baker could have a real path to making the roster if he can step into the role as a receiver/special teams contributor.
Mike Vrabel was encouraged by Javon Baker, who had two special teams tackles tonight pic.twitter.com/qJq0q0MNK5
STUD: K John Parker Romo
John Parker Romo has a mountain to climb to beat rookie sixth-round draft pick Andres Borregales for the starting kicker job, but he is beginning to make believers out of fans with his incredible kicking performances. He booted a 57-yard field goal through the uprights in Friday's game against the Commanders. It was a statement kick that showed he's capable of climbing whatever mountain he needs to climb to compete with Borregales.
DUD: QB Joshua Dobbs
Drake Maye could have easily landed in this category as well after fumbling the ball in the first quarter, but he only played on two series and went 3-for-5 passing for 12 yards and one rushing touchdown. So there isn't a lot there to judge his performance.
Meanwhile, veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs struggled with inaccurate throws throughout the game. He missed an easy touchdown throw to rookie Kyle Williams and came up short on multiple throws downfield. After a solid joint practice, this was far from Dobbs' best performance on the field.
Kyle Williams absolutely BBQ'd his man off the line for a walk-in TD, but Josh Dobbs missed him pic.twitter.com/IOxP5h3z70
STUD: DT Milton Williams
Milton Williams, the Patriots' big-ticket free agent acquisition, looked like a mauler on the defensive front. On one sequence, he pressured the quarterback up the middle to force an early throw, and then he followed that play up with a tackle for a loss on a third down. Williams and Christian Barmore together are going to be tough for opposing teams to deal with this season.
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