First, the Patriots lost multiple veteran players in free agency. Then, a league-leading eight players decided to opt out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns. That left plenty of holes in the roster and thus multiple opportunities for new and often younger players to step up and play a role in the coming NFL season.
Earning one of those spots hasn’t been easy as the coronavirus pandemic has these rookies off to an extremely late start.
Unlike past offseasons, the Patriots didn’t have a single practice in May or June. In that time, teams typically have OTAs and minicamp where players have up to 10 practices.