New England signed Peppers to a three-year, $24 million contract Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports. Peppers was arguably the Patriots' steadiest presence on either side of the ball during the 2023 season, and he's now being rewarded with a solid pay day. He figures to again play a near-every down role next to Kyle Dugger this year.
Heavy on Patriots
New England Patriots news & information.
Facebook
Unlock the latest New England Patriots news — direct to your inbox.
New England Patriots
AFC East
(4-13, 4th place)
Top Stories from Heavy on Patriots
Latest Patriots News Alerts
More from Heavy on Patriots
More from Heavy on Patriots
Patriots schedule
Patriots team stats 2023
-
passing yards
2120rushing yards
642receiving yards
561tackles
70interceptions
2Passing
name GP CMP ATT CMP% YDS YDS/G TD INT SACK SYL RTG B. Zappe,QB1012721259.9%1,272127.2692519168.8M. Jones,QB1122434564.9%2,120192.710122212777.0M. Cunningham,WR1000.0%00.000150.0Rushing
name GP CAR YDS AVG LNG YDS/G TD FUM LST FD J. Reagor,WR1111717.0171.50001T. Montgomery II,WR13393.070.70000B. Zappe,QB1017834.9188.31206M. Jones,QB1126963.7188.703011K. Bourne,WR8144.040.50101R. Stevenson,RB121566194.06451.6412636T. Thornton,WR935117.0395.70001D. Douglas,WR148415.1202.90302K. Harris,RB416654.11816.31022E. Elliott,RB171846423.51737.8322933Receiving
name GP REC TGTS YDS AVG TD LNG YDS/G YAC FD J. Reagor,WR117231382003912.518.05T. Montgomery II,WR135124080173.127.03M. Gesicki,TE172945244821814.496.011K. Bourne,WR837554061143650.8203.015R. Stevenson,RB123851238603419.8261.08P. Brown,TE1713152081615812.2121.08H. Henry,TE1442614191062429.978.029T. Thornton,WR9132391701510.150.03C. Strange,OG100030030.33.00112947260913723.694.013D. Douglas,WR1449795611104240.1336.026K. Boutte,WR52719100113.810.01K. Harris,RB433581904814.559.02E. Elliott,RB175165313622318.4374.012D. Parker,WR1333553941203030.3126.017Defense
TacklesSacksInterceptionsFumblesname GP SOLO AST TOTAL SACK SCKYDS TFL PD INT TD FF FR FTD A. Speed, CB5 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Board, LB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Wilson Sr., LB17 21 12 33 3.5 20.5 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 L. Guy Sr., DL17 16 22 38 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 T. Montgomery II, WR13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Gesicki, TE17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Mills, DB17 25 19 44 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 K. Dugger, SAF17 70 37 107 1.5 9.5 6 7 2 0 0 0 0 M. Jones, QB11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S. Roberts, DT7 2 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Wise Jr., DE16 22 32 54 4.5 50 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 B. Baringer, P17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Bentley, LB16 55 59 114 4.5 13.5 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 C. Barmore, DT17 39 25 64 8.5 60.5 13 6 0 0 0 0 0 A. Phillips, DB17 8 5 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Wilson, CB1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Peppers, SAF15 50 25 75 1 7 5 8 2 0 0 1 0 C. Davis, DB11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Jones, CB14 39 8 47 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 D. Ekuale, DT3 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Jennings, LB15 49 17 66 1.5 10 14 0 0 0 0 1 0 K. Bourne, WR8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Mapu, SAF17 9 5 14 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 P. Brown, TE17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S. Wade, CB14 21 2 23 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 D. Godchaux, DT17 24 32 56 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 B. Schooler, SAF17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 S. Sow, OG15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Thornton, WR9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Bryant, CB17 65 12 77 1 6 7 7 1 0 0 0 0 J. Uche, LB15 8 7 15 3 20 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Strange, OG10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Cardona, LS17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Andrews, C17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Douglas, WR14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Judon, LB4 10 3 13 4 25 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Slater, WR16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K. White, DE16 12 14 26 1 9 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 M. Jones, CB2 4 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 J. Jackson, CB8 22 3 25 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 E. Elliott, RB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Pharms Jr., DT12 4 5 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 C. Elliss, LB4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Jones, CB5 8 4 12 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 C. Munson, LB3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Tavai, LB17 63 44 107 1 9 5 5 2 0 0 0 0 C. Gonzalez, CB4 14 3 17 1 8 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 D. Parker, WR13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Austin, CB5 7 2 9 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
Patriots Depth Chart
Patriots Injury Report
Patriots Odds & Projections
-
TBD Win ProbabilityTBD Game
SpreadTBD Game
Over/UnderPatriots Pregame Probabilities
Check back soon for fresh projections!
New England signed Peppers to a three-year, $24 million contract Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports. Peppers was arguably the Patriots' steadiest presence on either side of the ball during the 2023 season, and he's now being rewarded with a solid pay day. He figures to again play a near-every down role next to Kyle Dugger this year.
Coach Jerod Mayo said Friday that Douglas (hand) is "day-to-day" and only dealing with a minor injury, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports. Douglas' hand injury has limited him from yet taking part in team drills at training camp, but it doesn't appear that he's dealing with anything long-term. The second-year pro reportedly impressed at spring practices, and once back on the field at training camp he'll work to continue building some positive momentum. There are opportunities up for grabs in New England's crowded wide receiver room -- and Douglas was one of the offense's lone bright spots as a rookie -- but he faces competition from 2024 second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk and fourth-rounder Javon Baker, as well as free-agency arrival K.J. Osborn.
Douglas has been limited by a hand injury for the last few days, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston reports. Douglas drew strong reviews for his play during spring practice, potentially helping him separate himself in a crowded New England wide receiver room. That continued momentum from a solid rookie season, during which he posted 49 receptions for 561 yards in one of the worst offenses in the league, so he should have an advantage over newcomers such as K.J. Osborn and Javon Baker. Nevertheless, it will be important for him to get back on the field quickly to secure a role heading into the regular season.
Gibson (undisclosed) returned to practice Thursday, Paul Perillo of the Patriots' official site reports. Coach Jerod Mayo indicated Wednesday that Gibson wasn't expected to be out long term, and indeed the running back's stint on the active/non-football injury list was abbreviated. Now that he's back at practice, Gibson is poised to work in a key complementary role in the Patriots backfield alongside incumbent starter Rhamondre Stevenson. In that capacity, Gibson should have an opportunity to maintain a degree of fantasy value, considering that the team could lean on the ground game early on this season with a new QB -- either Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye -- in line to get the Week 1 starting nod.
Smith-Schuster and K.J. Osborn were the first wide receivers through drills Thursday, Henry McKenna of FOX Sports reports. The new coaching staff in New England unsurprisingly seems to be deferring to the most experienced players at the start of training camp, but fantasy drafters figure to remain more interested in rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker as well as second-year pro DeMario Douglas. Competition for WR roles should be wide open, perhaps giving Smith-Schuster a chance to revive his career if he isn't totally washed up from a physical standpoint. Reports from spring practices weren't especially promising in that regard, even though Smith-Schuster is only 27 years old.
Osborn and JuJu Smith-Schuster were the first wide receivers through drills Thursday, Henry McKenna of FOX Sports reports. This is unlikely to change anyone's mind about rookie second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk and second-year pro DeMario Douglas being the New England wideouts generating the most fantasy attention. Osborn has a chance at a top-three role and quite a bit of playing time, but his output as the No. 3 receiver in Minnesota the past three seasons suggests he's highly unlikely to be targeted at a high rate even if he's on the field a lot. He signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Patriots in March, setting him up to compete with Polk, Douglas, Smith-Schuster, rookie fourth-round pick Javon Baker and (eventually) Kendrick Bourne (ACL tear).
Coach Jerod Mayo said Wednesday that Gibson (undisclosed) should return to practice "relatively soon," Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports. Gibson is on the non-football injury/illness list for the start of training camp, after seemingly being a full participant in the offseason program. He'll presumably be the No. 2 running back once he's ready to practice, having signed with the Patriots in March on three-year, $11.25 million contract that includes $5.3 million guaranteed. It's good money by backup RB standards, and while Gibson figures to initially get most of his playing time on pass snaps, his combination of size (6-foot, 228 pounds) and lead-back experience (258 carries in 2021) means there's potential for large workloads if starter Rhamondre Stevenson misses games.
The Patriots placed Strange (knee) on the active/PUP list Tuesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports. Strange is not expected to be ready for the start of the season, as he is still dealing with a knee injury suffered during Week 15 of last season. The Patriots will have until cut-down day to activate the 2022 first-round pick off the PUP list, or he will be forced to sit out at least four games.