The New England Patriots saw their preseason be the stage for some interesting positional battles. Rookies like quarterback Ben Wooldridge did their best to make the roster, and journeymen like D.J. James and Marcus Epps fought for roster spots.
While these players were all released months ago, some preseason standouts went down with injuries and found themselves on season-ending IR before the year even began.
It's easy for these players to be brushed under the rug, given that it's been months since they've seen any game action, but there's a very real possibility these players develop into important depth pieces for the 2026 squad.