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Players to Watch: Patriots at Eagles
Patriots.com's Mike Dussault shares his players to watch ahead of the Patriots Preseason Week 2 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.


Cam Newton, QB: Newton played just two series in the preseason opener and they were somewhat short circuited by a sack and a holding penalty. Against the Eagles, he should see more extensive action and have more time to show the strides he's made in the Patriots offense. He was efficient in joint practices and will look to translate that consistency to the game field.

Mac Jones, QB: Even with a more sustained appearance by Newton, the rookie should also see some action as he continues to gain valuable NFL experience. Jones had a solid debut and then got plenty of good work in against the Eagles in practice. His development continues to be one of the main storylines of the summer and with just under two weeks left in the preseason, it should be a busy finish to summer for him.

Devin Asiasi, TE: Just a couple weeks removed from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, Asiasi very well could be the Patriots only tight end for this game. That should give him a chance to get a ton of experience, something that would ordinarily be hard to come by with the three vets on the roster. There might be some ups and downs, but Asiasi is certain to make some strides in this one.

J.J. Taylor, RB: While all the running backs should see some action against Philly, Taylor is likely to see the most prolonged action, presenting another golden opportunity to make his case for a roster spot. The tough runner should find his way onto the highlight reel, he's the kind of player who was built for preseason excitement.

Kristian Wilkerson, WR: Wilkerson was fighting with drops during the two joint practices but remains an intriguing young receiver with good size and speed. But time is running out and Wilkerson needs a solid game which starts with catching everything thrown his way.

Nelson Agholor, WR: Agholor was the Patriots most dynamic weapon in Philly this week, making a collection of impressive catches. He should make his Patriot debut against the Eagles and could go a long way to calming any weaponry panic by shaking loose and making some plays in the game like he has in practice.

Christian Barmore, DL: The rookie defender has made strides over the last week, looking every bit the part of a big, disruptive force that made him one of the top defensive linemen from this year's draft. He still has a way to go, but the potential is starting to jump off the field. He could give the Eagles' blockers a number of problems in his debut.

Josh Uche, LB: The second-year linebacker has impressed his veteran teammates in his second season and as he continues to add up experience the big plays should start to come. The game could start to slow down for Uche against the Eagles as he should play plenty of snaps.

Joejuan Williams, CB: With injuries adding up at cornerback, the Pats defense could really use a breakthrough by Williams. He saw plenty of outside reps in joint practices and could emerge as a contributor on the top defense at the start of the season. A nice game from Williams would be reassuring for the secondary, especially with the uncertainty around Stephon Gilmore as camp winds down.

Quinn Nordin, K: The rookie kicker was nearly perfect in his last outing and now, after just three attempts in joint practices, all eyes will once again be on Nordin. Every kick counts a long way toward Nordic's improving odds of making the roster after nearly giving up on football until the Pats were the only team to give him a chance.