One underplayed situation from Friday's scrimmage session in Foxborough is the current status of Brenden Schooler.
Still not back on the field and currently on the Active: Non-Football Injury list, Schooler's absence could potentially open an extra space on the initial 53-man roster if he remains out.
Mike Vrabel won't put a timeline on Brenden Schooler's return
Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked if he thought Schooler's situation would devolve into a long-term absence.
"Well, I think it's hard to tell. I think it's one that we just want to be very cautious with. And he's got such a specific, unique role, and yes, he wants to be involved in defense and use those reps to improve what his number one role is on our football team, which is to be an elite special teams player, which he did last year," said Vrabel.
David Butler II-Imagn Images
"You'd see him out there playing safety because he wanted to practice open-field tackling and all these things, which I think is great. And so, until he's back, I don't think there's any real reason to push that or force that issue.
"We want to make sure that he's healthy. So, still a large part of what we want to do and what we're planning on doing. I just don't think there's any reason to rush him back right now, until he's as close to 100 percent as he possibly can be."
Brenden Schooler's absence could open a roster spot
Schooler is the lone true special-teams-only Patriot. A first-team All-Pro in 2024, he has filled in at safety only in emergency spots, playing a total of 93 snaps in 66 games played.
The vague characterization of Schooler might be a tell, and that could be news for some of the bubble guys.
The "free space" might give Vrabel the option to put an extra position player on the roster.
Maybe wide receiver Efton Chism forces Vrabel into keeping a seventh receiver.
Or an extra defensive back like a Channing Canada steps into the mix.
It will be a situation worth monitoring, especially as roster crunch time reaches a crescendo. Athlon's latest 53-man roster projection already has Schooler penciled in among the four locked special-teamers.
