FOXBORO — Two weeks out from cutdown day, one of many Patriots’ most vital unsettled roster battles is on particular groups.
Little has separated kickers Andres Borregales and Parker Romo via 14 coaching camp practices and one preseason recreation, with each making compelling circumstances to stay on the 53-man roster.
Patriots particular groups coordinator Jeremy Springer was requested earlier than Monday’s follow for his tackle the competitors.
“We’re nonetheless in coaching camp, proper?” Springer mentioned. “So we’re nonetheless constructing a staff, we’re incomes a job and getting ready to win. Incomes a job is the consistency that you are able to do each single day, and on the finish of the day, we’ll simply see what occurs on the finish of coaching camp, as a result of we’ve nonetheless acquired a very long time to go. I like how each of the fellows are competing proper now to earn a job, and that’s the largest factor: earn a job, however you’ve acquired to be constant in doing it.”
Borregales and Romo have been good in final Friday’s exhibition opener in opposition to Washington, with every kicker going 3-for-3 on further factors and 1-for-1 on field-goal tries. Romo had the extra spectacular make, booting one via from 57 yards. Borregales’ made discipline aim was a 22-yard chip shot.
Each have been equally environment friendly in most practices since camp started, however they struggled mightily on Monday. Romo went 1-for-4, and Borregales went 2-for-5, together with a long-range try on the finish of follow that fell properly wanting the aim publish. That erratic show almost matched the duo’s complete of missed kicks from all the earlier coaching camp classes mixed.
The pair could have two extra preseason video games and a handful of practices — together with two joint practices on the Minnesota Vikings’ facility this Wednesday and Thursday — to impress Springer, head coach Mike Vrabel and the remainder of New England’s decision-makers.
Borregales’ standing as a 2025 draft choose (sixth spherical out of Miami) might give him an edge over journeyman Romo (5 NFL groups in 4 seasons, together with a stint on the Patriots’ follow squad final December) in a lifeless warmth. However Springer mentioned efficiency and consistency will matter excess of the trail every participant took to New England.
“I simply suppose on the finish of the day, it’s the constant individual,” Springer mentioned. “It doesn’t matter when you’re drafted or undrafted or if we picked you up in free company, Coach Vrabel’s message may be very clear: You’ve acquired to earn a job. And when you earn a job via consistency and exhibiting up each single day, to me, that’s the man that’s going to win the job. On the finish of the day, it doesn’t matter who they’re, and that’s how I’m approaching day-after-day. Coach each guys the identical approach, and in the event that they proceed to progress and do what they’re advised to do and present some consistency, I’ll be pleased on the finish of the day with whoever we choose, and we’ll go from there.”
Whoever wins the job would be the Patriots’ fourth major kicker in as many seasons, following Nick Folks in 2022, Chad Ryland in 2023 and Joey Slye in 2024. Cutdown day is Aug. 26.
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