After resting the starters and top back-ups for the first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New England Patriots are planning on playing the whole roster, per the Herald’s Jeff Howe.
The Pats have planned all week for Tom Brady & Co. to play tomorrow night, per source. Barring a last-minute Belichick curveball of course.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 18, 2017
Players that are dealing with injuries or that haven’t been practicing- like LT Nate Solder, RB Mike Gillislee, LB Dont’a Hightower, LB Shea McClellin, and ST Matthew Slater- likely won’t take the field and it would be a shock if TE Rob Gronkowski played at all, but everyone else should be expected to suit up.
This means we will likely get our first glimpse at the likes of RB Rex Burkhead, WR Brandin Cooks, TE Dwayne Allen, DL Lawrence Guy, LB David Harris, and CB Stephon Gilmore. These players are expected to have a big role in 2017 and will have their first opportunity to show how they’ve meshed with the Patriots roster.
We will also get to see how players like LG Joe Thuney and EDGE Trey Flowers have continued to develop in their young careers.