The New England Patriots are expected to sit quarterback Mac Jones in Friday night’s preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans, according to Karen Guregian of MassLive. Guregian also reports that it “doesn’t appear many – if any – of the starters will see action” on Friday night.
But that doesn’t mean the Patriots will be sitting all 53 players that end up making the initial roster. There will still be several players worth watching in the preseason finale, in all three phases of the game.
Here’s who you should keep your peepers peeled for on Friday night…
WR Kayshon Boutte
![Aug 19, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshoun Boutte runs past Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr. (36) after catching a pass to score a touchdown in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/08/USATSI_21236958-copy.jpg)
Aug. 19, 2023: New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshoun Boutte runs past Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr. (36) after catching a pass to score a touchdown at Lambeau Field. (Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)
Boutte has quietly and steadily become one of the most intriguing players on the Patriots’ 90-man roster. After a slow start to training camp, he’s stacked a lot of good days and made a nice-looking touchdown catch-and-run last week against the Green Bay Packers.
Assuming the Pats’ veteran receivers don’t play in Tennessee, Boutte should start and see plenty of snaps, at least in the first half. He’s been showing good speed on the outside, which is something the Patriots have needed for years.
Boutte’s strong summer has made for interesting decisions come final cut-downs. If he has another eye-opening game on Friday night, it’ll become that much harder to keep him off the 53-man roster.
WR Demario Douglas
![Jun 12, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas (60) runs after making a catch at the Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/08/USATSI_20878629-copy.jpg)
New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas runs after making a catch at 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Much like Boutte, Douglas has made a previously meh wide receiver situation much more interesting by simply having an excellent summer. For a rookie sixth-round pick, anyway. He flashed with Mac Jones in Green Bay, but it’ll be fun to see him get a little more chances to make plays with his speed, route-running, and short-area quickness.