Mike Vrabel Clears the Air About Comments on Patriots’ Lack of Depth
Vrabel said the Patriots are not a very deep team after calling out reserves during a 24-21 preseason win, with injuries testing the roster.
- On Saturday, August 22, 2026, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel called an abrupt timeout to rebuke his defense after the Philadelphia Eagles drove 59 yards to the Patriots' 27-yard line during the first quarter.
- Vrabel criticized the unit as "leaky" and failing to challenge the Eagles, explaining he would not tolerate poor play even in the preseason opener. Safety Dell Pettus recalled the message: the coach demanded fighters, not passive defenders.
- Rookie quarterback Behren Morton demonstrated the team's depth concerns by punting three times for an average of 44.3 yards while also handling second-half snaps. Vrabel deployed Morton after the Eagles moved into scoring position, showing unusual roster versatility.
- The Patriots' defense tightened after the timeout, limiting the Eagles to 14 additional points. Morton led a game-winning drive capped by a 37-yard touchdown pass to Nick DeGennaro, securing a 24-21 victory at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
- With the preseason concluding, the team faces critical roster decisions. All NFL teams must trim their squads to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on August 30, 2026, creating a wave of cuts and potential trade opportunities across the league.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Vrabel: Pats' depth barb not shot at front office
When Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said "I do not think we have a very deep team" on Saturday, he was highlighting why Drake Maye, A.J. Brown and other starters haven't played in a preseason game. But was Vrabel also sending a message to the front office?
A message to the front office? Vrabel clarifies comments about lack of depth
Aug 22, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel looks on in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Edward Finan-Imagn Images
"That’s a direct public shot to Eliot Wolf," "Crazy thing to say": NFL fans react as Mike Vrabel exposes Patriots' "biggest weakness" in post-game PC
Vrabel is taking a very cautious approach with his roster for the preseason games. He rested his starters again during Saturday's 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mike Vrabel calls out Patriots’ depth and Pats-Eagles film notes
NFL analyst Dan Pizzuta joins Andrew to discuss Mike Vrabel’s comments about the Patriots not being a deep team and share their concerns over Patriots’ depth at five positions on a scale of 1-10. The guys also swap film notes after rewatching the Pats’ preseason win over the Eagles. 0:00 – Intro 1:53 – Mike Vrabel’s depth comments & what they really mean 5:09 – Film notes: what stood out on rewatch 16:58 – PrizePicks 19:56 – Drake Maye preseason…
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