Patriots sign defensive tackle to practice squad
The New England Patriots defensive tackle depth chart is getting a boost, after an up-and-down performance at the position in their Week 1 win over the Bengals. There’s a new…
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 26: Jay Ward #20 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates his sack against the Arizona Cardinals with teammate Jaquelin Roy #78 in the first half of a preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 26, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
David Berding/Getty ImagesThe New England Patriots defensive tackle depth chart is getting a boost, after an up-and-down performance at the position in their Week 1 win over the Bengals.
There's a new face in the New England Patriots defensive tackle room.
According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Pats are signing DT Jaquelin Roy to the practice squad. They will need to make a corresponding release in order to accommodate the move.
Roy, 23, was originally a fifth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, after participating in the NFL Combine. He played 12 games with one start as a rookie for the Vikings, playing only 12% of defensive snaps and 20% of special teams snaps along the way. Minnesota waived Roy in late August.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, played three years of college ball at LSU, and entered the 2023 draft described as "an ascending talent with the potential to become a quality starter."
Stacy Revere/Getty Images<sup>Jaquelin Roy is the newest addition to the Patriots defensive tackle room. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)</sup>
Roy managed to log eight tackles, one tackle for loss, and one QB hit in his 96 defensive snaps as a rookie.
In Cincy, the Patriots mainly employed Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale on the interior of the defensive line. Jeremiah Pharms Jr. mixed in for 11 snaps, Trysten Hill for seven. Keion White lined up for one snap in the A gap (between the center and guard) and two in the B gap (between the guard and tackle).
Interior run defense is one area of improvement for the Patriots, despite stunning the Bengals with a 16-10 win on Sunday. Entering Week 2, the Pats are 25th in the NFL against runs up the middle, at seven yards allowed per carry (per NFL Game Stats and Info). They also generated only one total pressure on the interior (Pharms).
That doesn't mean Roy will ever solve those problems, let alone this season. But the Patriots are ostensibly looking at that spot of the roster where the production and results could have been better in Cincinnati, and bracing for the possibility of needing to make adjustments.
According to Aaron Wilson, the Patriots worked out five other defensive linemen before signing Roy: Kyler Baugh, Jerrod Clark, Neil Farrell, Leonard Payne, and Tommy Togiai. Those guys can at least be part of their emergency list, if they really need help at defensive tackle.
Realistically, they'll get a better all-around performance out of the likes of Godchaux and Ekuale going forward. But if they can't consistently get pressure with just four men up front, and if a team can neutralize White's pressure off the edge, they'll really start to feel the loss of Christian Barmore.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
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