Copyright MassLive
TAMPA, Fla. – The 2025 NFL trade deadline came and went without the Patriots adding a veteran player to their roster. From the outside looking in, the decision was questionable. Mike Vrabel’s 7-2 team entered Week 10 tied for the best record in the AFC, and although they were surpassing expectations, the team still had holes on its roster. After the team traded veteran safety Kyle Dugger and edge rusher Keion White, the team lacked depth at several positions. Recent injuries only made matters worse. While preparing for the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Patriots were without starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson, receiver Kayshon Boutte, and linebacker Christian Elliss. The team could’ve used more depth at edge rusher or running back. They could’ve traded for another veteran receiver. Instead, they stood pat, leaning on youth and the players Vrabel brought in to change the Patriots culture. All season long, players believed in their teammates, and veteran receiver Stefon Diggs has reinforced that belief with several pregame and postgame speeches delivering a simple message: “We all we got. We all we need.” Those words were spoken by Diggs before the trade deadline. The message was reinforced on Sunday in the Patriots’ 28-23 upset win over the Buccaneers. “We worry about the guys and the families that we have in this locker room. The brotherhood that we have in this locker room,” right tackle Morgan Moses said. “Stef says it better and the best way you can – ‘We all we got. We all we need.’ We all believe that. Whoever we run out that tunnel with, the 53 guys, we make it happen.” Had the Patriots lost, it would’ve been easy to blame the team’s inactivity at the deadline. In the first half, Drake Maye and his offense weren’t as efficient. The Patriots punted in their first three drives. It was here that the pass game looked different with Boutte, who leads the Patriots in touchdown catches and is second in receiving yards. Without Boutte, Mack Hollins started, and rookie Kyle Williams was elevated up the depth chart. When the Patriots needed a spark on Sunday, a first-year player stepped up. With time expiring in the first quarter, Williams caught a pass and ran untouched for a 72-yard touchdown. The third-round pick came into this game with two catches on six targets for 20 yards. He finished Sunday’s win with his first career touchdown, which came at a pivotal moment. “I knew it was huge. We always say you prepare as a starter, and I really took that to heart this week because I knew what was at stake,” Williams said. “When you get an opportunity, you’re not promised another one.” In the first half, the Patriots were struggling to run the ball. Without Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson started his second game in a row. Terrell Jennings was elevated up the depth chart, and D’Ernest Johnson was elevated from the practice squad. The offense averaged 2.4 yards per carry by halftime. Henderson changed that quickly in the third quarter when he opened up the half with a 55-yard touchdown run to put the Patriots up, 21-10. The second-round pick then finished the game with a 69-yard touchdown run with 1:31 left on the clock. “Shoot, Kyle got a big opportunity with Boutte out to step up and played a lot. That was a huge play in the game,” tight end Hunter Henry said. “Really moved the momentum in our favor. And TreVeyon, I keep telling him to keep plugging away. It was cool to see him get out in open space to really see that speed.” The Patriots defense was also feeling the heat. After they traded away White, many thought the team should try to acquire a veteran edge rusher to add depth. The Patriots reportedly showed interest in Jaelan Phillips, but he was traded to Philadelphia for a third-round pick. With White gone, Anfernee Jennings and undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder were moved up the depth chart behind starters Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson. On Sunday, sacks were hard to come by. The Patriots entered the fourth quarter with one sack on Baker Mayfield. After Tampa Bay closed the gap to 21-16, the Buccaneers had opportunities in the fourth quarter to take a lead. Instead, several rookies on defense stepped up. After the Patriots went three-and-out, the Buccaneers had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Out of everyone on the defensive line, it was Ponder who stepped up and notched the first sack of his NFL career. That led to the Buccaneers going three-and-out with 8:10 remaining. When they got the ball back, Tampa Bay was 27 yards away from taking a lead. On third-and-3, rookie safety Craig Woodson broke up a pass intended for Cade Otton, and the Buccaneers attempt on fourth down failed. Henderson scored his second touchdown two plays later. “For sure, all we got is all we need,” safety Jaylinn Hawkins said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got culture. We’ve got something here that’s special, we just have to keep building and get better.” “We’re missing some soldiers now. And some guys stepped up. It was the rookie showcase today,” added Chaisson. “We had Kyle come in and give us a big touchdown. Tre, a big touchdown. Ponder with a big sack. Everybody is continuously making plays. We still got the rookie line with Jared (Wilson) and Will (Campbell). Everybody is preparing as a starter, and everybody is ready to dominate.” After the win, players were beaming in the visitor locker room. Veterans couldn’t stop gloating over the rookies who stepped up. With multiple starters out due to injury, this could’ve been a game where the Patriots’ lack of depth was their downfall. Then, it would’ve been easy to point to their inactivity at the deadline. Instead, a handful of rookies stepped up when called. As Diggs prophesied, the Patriots’ roster was more than enough. “We work with what we got,” Diggs said. “Not only as far as the trade deadline, but we got guys banged up. We got guys that are battling some things. When we’re out there, the guys that have been together, we’re banding together. We’re all family. We’re pulling for those guys that are injured to try and get back right. The next man up mindset is obviously real. “We all we got; that’s definitely all we need. We go out there and put it on display.” The Patriots did on Sunday.
