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The New England Patriots will revisit a list of familiar faces this August.
And it’s a long list, even if excluding the coaching and personnel likes of Matt Patricia, Steve Gregory, Billy Yates, Leon Washington, Harold Nash Jr., Bob Quinn, Mike Vrabel, Dean Pees, Tyrone McKenzie and Jon Robinson.
There are enough names to sort through on the rosters of New England’s preseason opponents alone.
The Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers and New York Giants currently combine to carry 26 former Patriots, and a dozen of whom signed their first NFL contracts with the organization.
Some stays spanned years while others spanned days. But here’s a rundown of the array.
PRESEASON WEEK 1: DETROIT
- WR Danny Amendola
- WR Chris Lacy – 2018 Patriots undrafted signing
- C Luke Bowanko
- DT John Atkins – 2018 Patriots undrafted signing
- DT Darius Kilgo
- DE Trey Flowers – 2015 Patriots fourth-round pick
- DE Eric Lee
- CB Justin Coleman
- CB Rashaan Melvin
- S Tavon Wilson – 2012 Patriots second-round pick
Add in the strong offseason investments in Flowers, Coleman and Melvin, and six current members of Detroit’s defense were in New England during Patricia’s tenure as defensive coordinator. The Lions and their head coach will host the Patriots for three days of joint practices before opening the preseason at Ford Field on Thursday, Aug. 8. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
PRESEASON WEEK 2: TENNESSEE
- RB Dion Lewis
- WR Cody Hollister – 2017 Patriots undrafted signing
- G Jamil Douglas
- DT Frank Herron – 2018 Patriots undrafted signing
- CB Malcolm Butler – 2014 Patriots undrafted signing
- CB Logan Ryan – 2013 Patriots third-round pick
Ryan, who never missed a game during his four years in the Patriots’ secondary, departed for Nashville on a three-year, $30 million deal in March 2017. Lewis and Butler joined him the following spring on four-year, $19.8 million pact and a five-year, $61.25 million pact, respectively. They’ll cross paths with New England at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. ET.
PRESEASON WEEK 3: CAROLINA
- QB Taylor Heinicke
- WR Chris Hogan
- WR DeAndrew White
- G Ian Silberman
- DT Woodrow Hamilton – 2016 Patriots undrafted signing
- DT Kyle Love – 2010 Patriots undrafted signing
A pair of Panthers defensive tackles originally entered the league as undrafted Patriots rookies. As for Hogan, two-time Super Bowl champion entered Carolina’s building on a one-year agreement this April after amassing 542 receiving yards to go with four touchdowns in his Patriots playoff career. He’ll be stopping back by Gillette Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 22 for a 7:30 p.m. ET kick.
PRESEASON WEEK 4: NEW YORK
- WR Corey Coleman
- WR Bennie Fowler
- OT Nate Solder – 2011 Patriots first-round pick
- C Jon Halapio – 2014 Patriots sixth-round pick
Coleman and Fowler had brief stints on New England’s receiver depth chart last September, even arriving on the same day. As for Solder and Halapio, the onetime Patriots draft choices make up two-fifths of the Giants’ projected starting offensive line. The annual preseason finale between New England and New York is slated 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Foxborough.