Teams have called the Patriots about most of their impending unrestricted free agents, per a source. A source said last week it’s “definitely possible” that the Patriots make one trade. Anything more than that would be a surprise.

Uche has missed the Patriots’ last two games. He was listed on the injury report with knee and ankle ailments ahead of Week 7 and ankle and toe injuries ahead of Week 8.

Uche has ranked among the best pure pass rushers in the NFL based on PFF’s metrics over the last two seasons, but at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, he’s limited in the Patriots’ scheme to a third-down situational role since he would be an undersized edge setter on the end of the line of scrimmage. The Patriots typically prefer investing in bigger edge defenders who are more effective against the run.

When asked about the trade deadline last week, Uche told the Herald he was just focused on getting back to playing football. He said that he and his agent had talked to the Patriots about a contract extension but wouldn’t go into further detail.

“Yeah, I mean, we just got back from Miami late last night and so working through the game,” head coach Bill Belichick said Monday morning. “We’ll deal with that here over the whatever period of time there is. I don’t know.”

Sources polled around the NFL believe the Patriots could get a third- or fourth-round pick for Uche. The Patriots have among the most salary cap space in the NFL next offseason, so it’s unlikely that they would receive comp picks for outgoing free agents if they intend to spend that money.

The Patriots’ top upcoming free agents include tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki, left tackle Trent Brown, safety Jalen Mills and wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who tore his ACL in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins, plus 2020 draft picks like Uche, safety Kyle Dugger and offensive lineman Mike Onwenu.

If the Patriots don’t feel like there’s a future with quarterback Mac Jones, who has now struggled in two straight seasons, then they also could try to shop the 2021 first-round pick. Sources varied on Jones’ trade value. One source believed there was none.

The Vikings believe they lost starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to an Achilles injury in Week 8. Prior to Cousins going down, two sources raised the hypothetical of Jones being traded to the Vikings.

The 49ers, who had reported interest in Jones before selecting Trey Lance third overall in 2021, have lost three straight games with Brock Purdy under center. The 49ers have Sam Darnold as a backup after trading Lance to the Cowboys this offseason.

Sources polled around the NFL believe Dugger, who could fetch up to a second-round pick, is the Patriots’ most valuable asset. Belichick said Monday morning that, “Yeah, of course, sure, absolutely” he would like to see Dugger stick around in New England. Belichick wouldn’t get into any contract conversations he’s had with Dugger or the safety’s representatives. The Patriots head coach acknowledged this summer that players like Dugger “end up getting a lot of money.”

Onwenu, who can play left guard, right guard and right tackle, could have potential trade value but one source said it’s unusual for an offensive lineman to be traded midseason.

The Patriots currently are slated to pick fifth overall with more than half of the season left to go. If they don’t believe they’ll be retaining some of their impending free agents and plan to spend in free agency and cancel out the formula that would net them compensatory draft picks, then it does make sense to add more draft capital at the deadline.

Actively selling players would have been more difficult if the Patriots had won Sunday’s game and improved their record to 3-5. At 2-6 with Bourne injured, Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones and Matthew Judon already on injured reserve, and with the Chiefs and Bills still on their schedule, it’s now looking extremely unlikely that the Patriots could get near playoff contention in a competitive AFC.

One missed call came with 6:26 left in the third quarter on second-and-10 when Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker was hit helmet-to-helmet by Dolphins safety DeShonn Elliott, jarring the ball loose on an incompletion. Elliott made helmet-to-helmet contact with Parker again when they landed on the turf. Officials did not throw a flag on the play. Parker left the game and was quickly ruled out with a head injury.

The Patriots trailed 24-10 at the time and punted after an incompletion on third-and-10. A penalty would have put the Patriots in Dolphins territory with a new set of downs.

“I’d like to feel like our players are getting protected like anyone else’s,” Belichick said Monday morning on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.” “The tripping on Ezekiel Elliott. That’s another dangerous pay. Stuff like that. There shouldn’t be a place for that in football.”

Patriots captain Matthew Slater said after the game that he believed Elliott would get fined for the hit despite not being flagged on the play. Quarterback Mac Jones took responsibility after the game for putting Parker in the position to take that hit.

It appeared that Elliott was tripped when Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins kicked his legs up on a play early in the second quarter.

Just starting review, but wondering if this is the play Bill Belichick is referencing on the tripping of Ezekiel Elliott (2Q/14:31). https://t.co/1Vg9j4eTX6 pic.twitter.com/A7Z11mRVOt

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 30, 2023

Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster later laid out Dolphins safety Brandon Jones to break up an interception. A flag was thrown on the play, but officials wound up penalizing Smith-Schuster for unsportsmanlike conduct, not unnecessary roughness.

Dolphins safety Brandon Jones was coming down with the ball when Smith-Schuster laid him out. The wideout was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play.

“I just saw the defensive player go for an interception,” Smith-Schuster said. “Just trying to make a play. He was coming down with the ball, just hit him in the chest to try to get the ball out.”

Smith-Schuster believed it was a clean hit but understood why Dolphins players came after him following the play.

“Of course they got upset,” he said. “I can see why. But it was a clean hit.”

Smith-Schuster was asked if he got clarity on whether it was the hit or something that transpired after the play that caused the penalty.

“I hit him and walked to the sideline,” Smith-Schuster said.

Dolphins players followed him to the sideline, which is when Patriots players got involved.

Defensive tackle Christian Barmore took exception with the way Dolphins players went after Smith-Schuster, and a long scrum between the two teams ensued.

“My guys came to protect our teammate all the time, doesn’t matter,” Barmore said. “Them guys came after my teammate crazy. They came to our sideline.”

“My guy going off the field, (a Dolphins player) came over to my sideline,” he continued. “That’s disrespectful, you know? Came to defend my teammate.”

Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, a starter over the first five weeks of the season, didn’t see action until wide receiver Kendrick Bourne left the game with a knee injury. Wide receiver DeVante Parker had already departed the game with a head injury.

A source told the Herald’s Andrew Callahan that Bourne will undergo an MRI on his knee Monday.

The demotion came after Smith-Schuster replaced wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in the Patriots’ offense this season as their prized free-agent signing, adding him on a three-year, $25.5 million contract.

Smith-Schuster has just 15 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown in six games.

“We played multiple people,” head coach Bill Belichick said. “Missed two weeks. But we played multiple people. So. whichever guy plays less, you’ll ask why that guy didn’t play more and so, we can’t play everybody.”

Smith-Schuster was out Weeks 6 and 7 with a concussion. Bourne, Parker and Douglas were the team’s top receivers before injuries affected the group. Jalen Reagor also played ahead of Smith-Schuster.

“It’s what the coaches — the decisions they made with the players,” Smith-Schuster said. “It is what it is. I’ve been in situations like this before. So, just when the opportunity comes, make the most of it.”

Smith-Schuster’s lone catch was a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mac Jones. That was Smith-Schuster’s first score in his Patriots career.

He said he knew it was a possibility that his snaps would be limited coming into the game.

The Patriots made wide receivers Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte inactive as healthy scratches in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins. They’ll likely dress next week against the Commanders if Bourne and Parker can’t play.

Dolphins safety DeShonn Elliott was not flagged for his hit on Parker that caused the head injury, but Patriots captain Matthew Slater still believed he would get fined for the play. Elliott helmet collided with Parker’s helmet once on the hit and when they fell to the turf.

Jones blamed himself for Parker’s injury.

“Hate seeing that when you’re the quarterback,” Jones said. “It’s the worst feeling in the world. Can’t put someone in that position.”

After last week’s win over the Bills, we asked where that team came from. It was apparent where the team that lost 31-17 to the Dolphins was hiding. This was the same team that struggled over and over again through the first six weeks of the season.

The Patriots struggled to move the ball in Sunday’s loss in Hard Rock Stadium, gaining just 218 total yards on 51 plays, and so many of the issues that plagued them in blowout losses earlier in the season tormented them once more in Week 8.

“We just got behind the sticks early, turned the ball over obviously, weren’t good on third down,” tight end and offensive captain Hunter Henry said Sunday. “Just situational football wasn’t great today. We were able to capitalize on the first turnover, but the second turnover, we really needed to put points on there. We just weren’t able to execute. They were able to do some good things too. You gotta give them credit too. Their D-line is really good up front. They move in, make a lot of plays in the backfield that we need to be better on.”

The Patriots’ offense showed promise late in the first quarter after safety Kyle Dugger gave them the ball on the Dolphins’ 30-yard line after picking off quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Quarterback Mac Jones hit Kendrick Bourne on a 24-yard catch and run touchdown to cap off a three-play, 30-yard drive. But they managed just a field goal early in the second half after linebacker Anfernee Jennings recovered a muffed handoff between Tagovailoa and running back Raheem Mostert. The Patriots actually moved backward 1 yard before rookie Chad Ryland banged through a 38-yard field goal.

Jones was intercepted once, and it would have been a pick-six for cornerback Jalen Ramsey if rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas wasn’t able to force the All-Pro, returning from injury, out of bounds. Jones nearly threw two more picks on the Patriots’ final offensive drive.

“Like I always talk about, every week is different,” Jones said when asked why the Patriots couldn’t continue their offensive momentum from Week 7. “Gameplan changes. We just needed a little more production from me, from everybody. That’s where it starts. It starts with the quarterback. I can be cleaner on my reads and all of that stuff. You’ve got to be really sharp against a team with a really good offense, and I thought the defense fought really hard. It’s a really good football team we played.”

Head coach Bill Belichick was asked after the game if Jones would continue to be the Patriots’ starting quarterback.

“We all need to play better, yeah,” Belichick said. “We all need to coach and play better.”

The Patriots had the same offensive line combination that protected Jones well in Week 7. They let up three sacks and four more QB hits on Sunday. And rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas, an offensive sparkplug, continued to see an increased role but picked up just 25 yards on five catches. Wide receivers Kendrick Bourne (knee) and DeVante Parker (head) both left the game with injuries, and the team did not benefit from officiating.

But it’s clear that the Patriots cannot compete with a unit as high-powered as the Dolphins’ offense no matter how hard the defense fights. The Dolphins gained 390 yards on 73 plays while Tagovailoa tossed three touchdowns.

It was fair to pump the brakes on declaring that the Patriots were back after last week’s win. After Sunday’s loss, and based on the first six weeks of the season, it looks like merely an aberration.

The 2-6 Patriots couldn’t keep up with the speedy Dolphins in Week 8’s 31-17 intra-division loss. That came after an encouraging effort by the Patriots’ offense in their Week 7 win over the Bills.

“As a team, it just wasn’t good enough,” head coach Bill Belichick when asked about quarterback Mac Jones’ performance.

Things actually started relatively promising for the Patriots, who took an early lead off of an interception from safety Kyle Dugger off of Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, giving the offense a short field.

After a throwaway and a 6-yard run by running back Rhamondre Stevenson, Jones found Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne in the middle of the field for a 24-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

It took just a little over three minutes for the Dolphins to respond on a six-play, 75-yard drive that saw Tagvailoa find wide receiver Tyreek Hill zooming downfield with Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson and rookie safety Marte Mapu lagging behind in his tracks on a 42-yard deep touchdown.

The Patriots quickly went three-and-out, losing 11 yards in the process on their ensuing drive before the Dolphins scored again.

This time, the Dolphins plodded down the field on a 14-play, 53-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to wide receiver Cedric Wilson. Jackson, who was penalized for a relatively soft defensive pass interference penalty on the drive, was in coverage on that play, as well.

Another promising Patriots offensive drive ended with a Jones interception on a target to Bourne that was jumped by All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, returning from injury in his Dolphins debut.

“I knew the coverage, I knew the everything,” Jones said after the game. “I just made a bad throw really late, didn’t really drive it. That’s what happens on that play. The guy either takes it, and it’s a touchdown, or the guy falls off, and that can happen. Can’t do that as a quarterback. Just throw it out of bounds or take the check-down and move on.”

The Dolphins responded with a field goal after an eight-play, 28-yard drive before the Patriots kneeled on the ball to end the half with 26 seconds left on the game clock.

A Dolphins fumble to begin the second half on a muffed handoff from Tagovailoa to running back Raheem Mostert that was scooped up by linebacker Anfernee Jennings gave the Patriots life. Jones and Co. lost a yard before rookie kicker Chad Ryland knocked through a field goal to cut the Dolphins’ lead to 17-10.

The Dolphins, with little resistance from a Patriots defense that lost linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to a hamstring injury, went 77 yards on nine plays before Mostert walked into the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run to make the score 24-10.

The Patriots and Dolphins then exchanged four consecutive punts before Jones ended the scoring drought with a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had entered the game after Bourne was ruled out with a knee injury and DeVante Parker was out with a head ailment. The score, which came after a 13-play, 81-yard drive that saw Jones spread the ball around to tight end Hunter Henry, wide receiver Demario Douglas and Stevenson, cut the Dolphins’ lead to 24-17.

The dagger came with 2:43 left in the game when Tagovailoa found a wide-open Jaylen Waddle in the middle of the field for an easy 31-yard catch-and-run touchdown. The Dolphins sent Hill in motion, and both Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones followed him in coverage, leaving Waddle standing in the middle of the field without a defender in the vicinity.

BEST

S Kyle Dugger: Dugger was everywhere for the Patriots, intercepting a pass, recording a sack and leading the team with seven tackles.

WR Kendrick Bourne: Before leaving the game with a knee injury, Bourne caught three passes on four targets for 36 yards with a touchdown.

DT Christian Barmore: Barmore has had a strong three-week stretch. The 2021 second-round pick registered five tackles and a sack.

WORST

CB J.C. Jackson: The veteran cornerback allowed two touchdowns in Sunday’s loss. He was charged with defensive pass interference, but it was a pretty ticky-tack flag.

S Marte Mapu: The rookie defender trailed far behind Hill on the Dolphins’ 42-yard touchdown connection. He saw his playing time decrease after the play.

QB Mac Jones: It wasn’t an awful performance from Jones, but the bar is pretty low for the young quarterback this season. He was 19-of-29 for 161 yards with two touchdowns, an interception and two more near-picks. Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa was 30-of-45 for 324 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne suffered a knee injury on the first play of the fourth quarter. He spent time in the Patriots’ blue pop-up medical tent before departing for the locker room. He was quickly ruled out after leaving the sideline.

Bourne has been the Patriots’ top receiver this season with 37 catches for 406 yards with four touchdowns. He caught three passes on four targets for 36 yards with a touchdown before departing Sunday’s game.

Wide receiver DeVante Parker had already been ruled out with a head ailment.

The injuries leaves the Patriots with Demario Douglas, Jalen Reagor and JuJu Smith-Schuster at wide receiver. Rookie Kayshon Boutte and 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton were healthy scratches Sunday.

Parker actually took two shots to the head from Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott on the play — once on initial contact and again when Elliott landed on Parker. Parker dropped quarterback Mac Jones’ pass upon contact.

No clue how you don’t rule violent contact to the head/neck of a defenseless receiver here. Kind of a textbook case. pic.twitter.com/S14fz76ghC

— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) October 29, 2023

Elliott was not penalized for unnecessary roughness on the hit. The Patriots acquired Parker in a trade with the Dolphins last offseason.

Parker’s injury still leaves the Patriots with Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas and Jalen Reagor at wide receiver. Reagor is expected to take on the bulk of Parker’s snaps at “X” wide receiver.

The injury occurred in the second quarter. Bentley first departed into the Patriots’ blue pop-up medical tent before leaving the sideline for the locker room.

Patriots linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Mack Wilson took over for Bentley in the middle of the defense.

Bentley led the Patriots with 49 tackles heading into Week 8. He had six tackles against the Dolphins before leaving the game. He also has a sack, three tackles for loss, five QB hits and a pass breakup this season.

The young wide receiver is among the Patriots’ inactives with the Patriots dressing Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Reagor instead. Rookie wide receiver Kayshon Boutte will also be a healthy scratch.

Here’s the Patriots’ full list of inactives:

OT Calvin Anderson
OT Vederian Lowe
OLB Josh Uche
WR Kayshon Boutte
WR Tyquan Thornton
QB Will Grier (3rd QB)

Anderson (illness), Lowe (ankle) and Uche (ankle/toe) didn’t make the trip to Miami.

Bailey Zappe will back up starting quarterback Mac Jones with Grier serving as the team’s emergency third QB.

Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (knee), offensive tackle Trent Brown (ankle/knee), cornerback Jonathan Jones (knee), cornerback Shaun Wade (shoulder), defensive end Keion White (concussion) and defensive end Deatrich Wise (shoulder) were listed questionable but will play against the Dolphins.

McDermott, who signed back to the Patriots’ practice squad on Oct. 17, was elevated from the practice squad onto the gameday roster Saturday.

Additional offensive tackle depth was necessary with Calvin Anderson (illness) and Vederian Lowe (ankle) already ruled inactive. Left tackle Trent Brown (ankle/knee) is also questionable but expected to play. Mike Onwenu started at right tackle last week. Rookie Sidy Sow started at right guard last Sunday but also has experience at tackle.

The expected available offensive linemen for Sunday’s game are Brown, left guard Cole Strange, center David Andrews, Sow, Onwenu, McDermott and rookies Atonio Mafi and Jake Andrews.

The Patriots also have offensive linemen Riley Reiff and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. on injured reserve.

Outside linebacker Josh Uche (ankle/toe), a trade deadline candidate, was also ruled out Saturday. League sources have projected that he could net a third- or fourth-round pick in a trade. One team source did not question the validity of Uche’s injury three days out from the trade deadline.

Outside linebacker Josh Uche (ankle/toe) and offensive lineman Vederian Lowe (ankle) were both downgraded from questionable to out before the Patriots traveled to South Florida.

Uche and Lowe join Calvin Anderson on the early inactive list.

Uche, who’s in a contract year, also missed last week’s game due to injury. He’s been a popular trade candidate ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Sources believe he could net the Patriots a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick in the draft.

One team source did not doubt the validity of Uche’s injury.

Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (knee), offensive tackle Trent Brown (ankle/knee), cornerback Jonathan Jones (knee), cornerback Shaun Wade (shoulder), defensive end Keion White (concussion) and defensive end Deatrich Wise (shoulder) were also listed as questionable but seemingly made the trip to Miami.

The Patriots made key personnel changes that led the offense and defense to perform considerably better than they had played through the first six weeks of the season.

They played a rookie wide receiver more, made a key change on their offensive line and activated a defensive playmaker before the game.

Head coach Bill Belichick must now continue to ride with what worked Sunday against the Dolphins.

So, these four players must continue to play key roles in Week 8:

WR Demario Douglas

It’s not unreasonable to compare Douglas to some of the players who came before him in the long lineage of Patriots slot receivers.

Douglas isn’t Troy Brown, Wes Welker, Danny Amendola or Julian Edelman yet, but he’s also a rookie and has already shown some of the same skills at beating man coverage and making plays after the catch using his quickness that they brought to the Patriots’ offense during the dynasty era.

It’s too bad that the Patriots invested so much money in wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency before selecting Douglas in the draft, because the rookie has been considerably better out of the slot so far this season. He received his most playing time Sunday with Smith-Schuster out.

It’s unclear what will happen with Smith-Schuster if Douglas keeps earning starting snaps in the slot. The veteran can also play the “Z” role in the offense, but Kendrick Bourne plays that spot and is the Patriots’ most consistent wide receiver. DeVante Parker and Jalen Reagor were competing for snaps in the “X” role last week, and the team still has Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte on their 53-man roster.

Smith-Schuster was inactive after being listed on the injury report with a concussion last week. We’ll see if he can get back on the active roster in Week 8.

RT Mike Onwenu

The offensive line played its best game of the season in Week 7’s win, and it’s really no big surprise that it came with Onwenu at right tackle.

Onwenu is a better right guard, but he’s also the best right tackle option the Patriots have on their roster. They’ve rifled through Riley Reiff, Conor McDermott, Sidy Sow, Calvin Anderson and Vederian Lowe since training camp broke in July. Then they finally made the move to start Onwenu at right tackle Sunday, and it paid off in a big way.

The Patriots could elevate McDermott from the practice squad and move Onwenu back to right guard. But it worked with Trent Brown at left tackle, Cole Strange at left guard, David Andrews at center and rookie Sidy Sow at right guard. The Patriots are better off not messing with what worked.

CB Jonathan Jones

The Patriots took what was probably a smart approach at cornerback with Jack Jones returning off of injured reserve and Jonathan Jones still nursing a knee injury suffered in Week 7.

J.C. Jackson served as one outside cornerback, and Myles Bryant played the slot while Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones split snaps the other outside cornerback position.

If Jackson and both Jonses are healthy, then they create the team’s best cornerback combination with Christian Gonzalez expected to be out for the season. Jackson and Jack Jones can play outside, and Jones can return to the slot, where he spent the majority of the early portion of his career.

The Patriots would be better off with Gonzalez on the active roster, but Jackson, Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones can be a very good cornerback combination.

DT Christian Barmore

The 2021 second-round pick out of Alabama has made a major impact in consecutive weeks. He registered five defensive stops Week 6 against the Raiders and then generated four pressures, including one sack, against the Bills while still producing two defensive stops.

“B-More’s had a really good year,” Belichick said Wednesday. “He’s been healthy. He had a good offseason. I’d say this is the hardest that he’s trained or was able to train. Some of that’s been a little bit rehab-related. He’s had a good offseason, good training and he’s playing well. I think those things usually go together.”

Barmore is on pace to set a career high in defensive snaps. The 24-year-old ranks 12th out of 54 qualified defensive tackles in PFF’s pass-rush grade, 22nd in pressures and 12th in pass-rush win rate.

Coming out of training camp, the favorites, based on pecking order in practice reps were wide receivers DeVante Parker and JuJu Smith-Schuster, and tight end Hunter Henry. Seven weeks into the season, a fourth candidate has not only emerged, he’s nearly doubling the Patriots’ next top pass catchers in receiving yards.

Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne leads the Patriots with 34 catches, 370 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots’ next-top target, Henry, has 20 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Parker has just 14 catches for 144 yards, and Smith-Schuster hasn’t even cracked the century mark in receiving yards with 14 catches for 86 yards.

Henry has been consistent as one of the Patriots’ top offensive players, but Parker saw practice squad elevation Jalen Reagor eat into his snaps in Week 7. Smith-Schuster might have lost his starting slot job to Demario Douglas last week, as well. Meanwhile, Bourne is fifth on team in offensive snaps. He was off of the field for just four snaps in each of the last two games, in which he has 16 catches for 152 yards with a touchdown.

He’s also been the NFL’s 11th-best wide receiver, per ESPN analytics, which uses “player-tracking data from NFL Next Gen Stats to evaluate every route a pass catcher runs and scores his performance in three phases of the game, from 0 to 99.”

He ranks fourth in yards after catch, 36th in getting open and 40th in catching, based on those metrics.

So, what’s been going so right?

“Just practicing well, executing well with the team,” Bourne said. “Just focusing each and every day to make the plays work. Just practice as an overall group has been going good.”

This is the player Patriots fans were expecting to see in 2022 as Bourne came off of a career year in his first season in New England, catching 55 passes for 800 yards with five touchdowns in 2021 with Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator. But Bourne saw his snap count decrease in 2022 under Matt Patricia, and he disappointed with just 35 catches for 434 yards with one touchdown.

“I just was kind of not bought in last year, just going through a lot of personal things and mental battles,” Bourne said. “And last year helped me a lot for this year, though. So when I look back at it, I’m thankful for it. It was some things I regret, but ultimately, it was God’s journey for me to become who I am right now. And so ultimately, it was worth it. But I definitely don’t want to go through it again.”

When asked if last year’s coaching staff had to do with Bourne not buying in, he said he was just not “personally, mentally” bought in.

He was focusing more on himself than football as he “turned his life around for God.” But in the long run, it made him a better player this season.

“I just lived with discipline, not partying, not doing things I used to do,” Bourne said about last season. “And just taking care of my body and not putting alcohol in my body so much, just other things, (not) hanging out women and doing all the — staying up all night. The whole nine lifestyle I kind of changed around.

“And it was it was hard for me personally, and just was focusing on myself and football was hard to focus on. So two things at once in doing that ultimately made me a better football player.”

But learning to focus on himself meant not doing the little things in the facility throughout the week last season. And he regretted how he was “approaching every day.”

“Not taking care of my body, going home too early and things like that,” Bourne said. “Not getting treatment and getting in the tubs and the sauna. Just the little things after practice. You know, I would go to practice, I had good days but my body was aching. And now you know, (my) body still aches. Just doing it the right way. Now, my body feels a lot better. It can endure more.”

Bourne has found balance and adjusted to his new lifestyle, and with that has emerged a better football player.

He was able to bulk up to 205 pounds over the offseason, and despite the rigors of practice and game snaps, he’s been able to keep that weight on. He’s been working with Patriots dietician Ted Harper.

“I’m on a consistent nutrition routine,” Bourne said. “Ted has me — I don’t eat strictly but I eat better than I used to. Last year that was my struggle too was my nutrition, eating unhealthy and so this year has been much better.”

Bourne is on pace for career highs this season as quarterback Mac Jones’ top target.

The Patriots have received calls on many of their impending unrestricted free agents, a source said. The Patriots’ top UFAs next offseason are left tackle Trent Brown, tight end Hunter Henry, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and members of the 2020 NFL Draft class: safety Kyle Dugger, offensive lineman Mike Onwenu and edge defender Josh Uche.

Sources polled last week believe the Patriots could get a Day 2 draft pick in exchange for Dugger or Uche.

As for the likelihood of a deal, one source said “one trade is definitely possible” but it would be a surprise if there was more than that.

Head coach Bill Belichick wasn’t interested in diving deep into the Oct. 31 trade deadline during Friday morning’s news conference.

“Yeah, we’re just focused on Miami right now,” Belichick said. “(Director of player personnel) Matt (Groh) and his staff, if there’s something to talk about, I’m sure we’ll talk about it.”

Belichick was asked if he was checking in with Groh regularly.

“Matt’s office is 30 feet away,” he said. “If we need to see each other, we’ll see each other. If something comes up about anything, yeah.”

Belichick wouldn’t say that the Patriots would only consider trading a player in the final year of his deal.

“Yeah, there’s a lot of factors involved with players’ contracts,” Belichick said. “Everyone’s different, so I don’t think there’s any specific rule.”

Belichick didn’t single out any players but did say they’ve talked to some of their impending free agents about extensions.

“Yeah, we’ve talked to a number of players,” he said. “The one’s that we’ve reached an agreement with, we’ve reached an agreement with. The ones we haven’t, we haven’t.”

Wide receiver DeVante Parker and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley have been signed to extensions.

The Patriots are set to have the most cap space in the NFL next offseason, meaning they’ll likely be heavily involved in free agency. Many times, if the Patriots lose a player in free agency, they’ll receive a compensatory draft pick in exchange. But compensatory picks are determined by a formula dependent on how many players a team gains and loses in free agency. So, if the Patriots are planning to sign more free agents than they’ll lose, then they likely wouldn’t receive comp picks for the players they lose. That could influence them to trade a player now to get something in return.

“Well yeah, it has some relevance,” Belichick said of the comp pick formula ahead of the deadline.

The Patriots would have to swing a trade by Halloween at 4 p.m. ET.

Rookie Sidy Sow earned the start at right guard in place of Mike Onwenu, who moved to right tackle, in Sunday’s win over the Bills and thrived. With an 86.4 mark, Sow earned the highest single-game PFF grade for a rookie offensive lineman this season.

It would have been difficult to predict Sow getting starting reps at right guard as recently as this summer. He was a left tackle as a freshman in college and played guard in his remaining years at Eastern Michigan, but the 6-foot-5, 318-pound offensive lineman was drafted to play tackle in New England. The Patriots had Sow playing right tackle — even earning first-team reps — throughout training camp and the preseason before they got Calvin Anderson back from the non-football illness list and acquired Vederian Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. in trades.

When Onwenu and Cole Strange weren’t ready to start the season, Sow started at right guard and fellow rookie Atonio Mafi, a fifth-round pick who was the top reserve guard all season, started at left guard in Week 1.

Sow has stuck at guard ever since, and Onwenu thrived in his return to right tackle. So, why change a good thing?

“The move from tackle to guard I think was more comfortable for him than guard to tackle, kind of why we did it that way,” head coach Bill Belichick said. “Start him at tackle, figured we could move him to guard, versus taking a guard and trying to move him out to tackle.

“He’s another guy that has a really good demeanor. Works hard, tough, just tries to do his best at everything you ask him to do, and that’s a good thing. Takes coaching well, obviously is inexperienced, he’s learned a lot. He’s certainly not arrived, or there yet, but making progress every day, works hard, learns from his mistakes. Big kid – strong, tough – but moves pretty well.”

Sow thinks all of the moving around has helped him early in his NFL career.

“It’s been fun because it’s been giving me a lot of different experiences facing different athletes and especially learning the offense,” Sow said. “Because it allowed me to not just learn one position like just learning left guard or right guard. It allowed me to understand what we do as a whole line and every single concept. I think that kind of accelerated my learning process of the offense. I enjoyed it.”

The Quebec native said it took him a couple of reps to readjust to moving from tackle to guard, but “the muscle memory of doing it for so long in college kind of helped me a little bit.”

He doesn’t know why the Patriots moved him back from tackle to guard. Why?

“I didn’t really ask,” he said. “So, I play whatever they want me to play. I don’t really ask questions because I don’t really mind. It’s not something that important to know why I’m doing something. I just want to be there and do it.”

The Patriots are expected to be without cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones for the rest of the season, but they put a very strong group on the field Sunday. And the unit should be getting even better in time for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.

J.C. Jackson, reacquired in a trade with the Chargers earlier this month, is back to playing close to 100% of defensive snaps in his return to the Patriots. Jack Jones, in his first game back from injured reserve, and Jonathan Jones, who was nursing a knee injury suffered in Week 7, split snaps at the other outside cornerback spot. And Myles Bryant manned the slot. Jackson, Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones all played in Sunday’s win over the Bills but never all shared the field at the same time.

But Jackson, Jack Jones and Jonathan Jones have all been full-gos in practice this week. And the potential of a position group with Jackson and Jack Jones on the outside and Jonathan Jones back manning the slot seems high.

“Through the roof,” is where Jack Jones sets it. “I don’t want to put a cap on it. I feel like if I was to say anything, it would be putting a cap on it. Just let us go out there each Sunday and play to our potential and see where we land, but I think we’ve got a really good group.”

Jackson concurs.

“I feel like we have the potential to be one of the best secondaries in the league with this defense,” Jackson said. “We just got to play up to that.”

Jack Jones, who was one of the league’s top rookie cornerbacks last season, was frustrated by a hamstring injury he suffered prior to Week 1 that kept him out for the first six weeks of the season. The ailment occurred after gun charges, stemming from an arrest in June when police allegedly found two handguns and ammunition in his carry-on bag at Logan Airport, had been dropped against him.

“That was tough, bro,” Jack Jones said of his injury. “That’s the worst, especially first week. I mean, we go through all fall camp and the summer and you’re good. And then the first week is just a bummer. You don’t want that to happen at all. But you’d rather it have it earlier than later. It’s God’s timing, not mine. It was an unfortunate situation, but I’m blessed to come out of the situation and be able to play football.”

Jonathan Jones, who has primarily played outside over the last two seasons after serving as one of the NFL’s best slot cornerbacks for the first six years of his NFL career, said he’d be comfortable moving back inside.

“That’s my thing about my career,” Jonathan Jones said. “I’ve kind of done everything here. Whatever I’ve ever been asked to do has always been an option.”

And Jackson, who was one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks in his previous tenure in New England, has been praised by Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino for the effort he brings back to the team.

“I love J.C.,” Pellegrino told reporters on Tuesday. “I missed him when he was gone. … J.C.’s bringing a different energy to the room on working hard and getting ready to go for practice and stuff like that. That’s been really good. I’ve been really impressed with his new attitude, pushing himself, pushing everybody to play better. …

“He’s always been a guy who loves to work. I’m out there at practice, I’ve got two seconds to myself, he’s like, ‘Mike, let’s go do something. Let’s go do some long balls.’ He always wants to do extra work. He’s out there 10 minutes before practice starts, working on his footwork. He does a great job trying to stay on top of his craft.”

Jack Jones said Jackson gets the whole group going “being himself really, just being J.C.”

Jonathan Jones sees Jackson motivating younger players like Jack Jones.

“I mean, he doesn’t say too much, but just his presence,” Jonathan Jones said. “He’s one of those playmakers and has been here for a while. Just the energy he brings to the room is different, different energy, and a lot of those younger guys can kind of gravitate to that, as well.”

If Jackson and both Joneses start, that would allow Bryant to go back to his strength of being a versatile chess piece in the Patriots’ defense, capable of playing in the slot, outside and at safety.

The Patriots could catch a break this week with Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill missing Wednesday’s practice with a hip injury. Jonathan Jones has been adept at limiting Hill, who returned Thursday, in the past if the speedy wideout can power through the ailment.

After signing Jalen Reagor to the 53-man roster, the Patriots have seven wide receivers on their active roster. That’s leading to some questions from fans about what the team has planned for the future.

Let’s get into questions about JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, future needs and more in this week’s mailbag.

@STwithScott
Is there any indication Juju will be used more? Any thing on the Patriots pursuing receiver help before the trade deadline?

I think, if anything, there’s an indication that Smith-Schuster will be used less.

Smith-Schuster plays the “Z” and slot roles in the Patriots’ offense. They can’t take Kendrick Bourne, their primary “Z” receiver, off of the field. He’s their most consistent pass catcher. If anything, rookie slot receiver Demario Douglas has only earned more snaps after last week’s win over the Bills.

Then the Patriots still have to figure out spots and snaps for DeVante Parker, their starting “X” receiver, Reagor, who cut into Parker’s snaps last week and was signed to the 53-man roster this week, Tyquan Thornton, who played limited snaps last week in the “Z” role, and Kayshon Boutte, another “X” receiver who has been a healthy scratch since Week 1.

It feels unlikely that the Patriots would dress more than five wide receivers. Boutte seems like a safe bet to continue to be inactive. Then the team has to decide on one more inactive between Parker, Reagor, Thornton and Smith-Schuster. Thornton feels like the most likely option based on his snap count last week.

Then again, Douglas and Smith-Schuster were both limited throughout last week in concussion protocol. Douglas played, and Smith-Schuster did not. We’ll keep a close eye on inactives Sunday to find out which two receivers sit.

As for a potential trade, I don’t really see it. I know Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow looks like a good fit on paper, but the same was said about his play style in Josh McDaniels’ offense, and that has been a disaster. The Patriots also already have a much cheaper slot option in Douglas, who you don’t want to take off of the field.

@KaratesBadBoy31
Has Jalen Reagor really been THAT good in practices?

I had heard even before his Week 2 elevation that he had been impressive in practice and that his speed was really jumping out to the team.

So, yes. I still want to see him contribute with more than one catch before I believe he’ll make a major impact, but it’s worth seeing if he can add some big-play ability while cutting into Parker’s snaps.

@Dcon64
Why can’t Tyquan Thornton get open or have an actual role, seems like Reagor has already passed him on the depth chart

It’s wise to temper any expectations for Thornton.

He played 25 snaps and caught one 6-yard pass on two targets in his season debut Week 6. And then he played three snaps in Week 7.

And yeah, they play slightly different roles, but it does seem like Reagor passed him on the depth chart. It is easier to find playing time at the “X” role, where Parker plays, rather than cutting into Bourne’s snaps in the “Z” position, though.

There’s really no guarantee that Thornton will even be active in Week 8.

@DomDoesNFL
Hey Doug, as always hope you’re doing well.

During the off-season Deandre Hopkins came to visit, with all the rumors of his availability, do you see the Patriots taking another swing at acquiring him?

I actually had this thought after the Titans traded Kevin Byard, but I would be very surprised. The time to acquire him was before they started the season 2-5.

@heardjuuhomie
Have they realized throwing it to Mondre is key to success yet or not

It is definitely smart to get the running backs more involved in the passing game.

Throwing to Stevenson wasn’t a very efficient play prior to Week 8, however. Take out Stevenson’s 32-yard catch and run in Week 7, and he’s averaging just 5.9 yards per catch.

@AdamHBeasley
Will they beat the Dolphins?

Good question here from a Miami-based reporter.

I’d throw it back at you, Adam, and ask, “Is Tyreek Hill playing?”

It feels like anything is on the table after last week’s win over the Bills, but I’d still predict a Dolphins victory.

@Mark_1878_
Looking forward to the 2024 season. What is a greater priority in the draft/free agency, pass protection or offensive weapons? #MailDoug

Quarterback is No. 1 until Mac Jones continues to prove that last Sunday’s performance was for real.

Then I’d put pass protection No. 2 and offensive playmakers No. 3.

It’s not always a bad thing when addressing an offensive lineman, though. And for Patriots left guard Cole Strange, weight was an issue for the 2022 first-round pick as a rookie.

But Strange looked bigger in his return to the field in Week 7 from a knee injury, and it coincided with the Patriots’ best offensive line performance by far this season in Sunday’s win over the Bills.

So, did Strange gain some weight?

“Yeah, a little bit,” Strange told the Herald. “I wasn’t trying to add too much because I wasn’t playing. So, it’s like if you’re just adding on a bunch of weight, then it’s probably just fat. But I was trying to gain the best weight I could.”

Strange said he felt “light” at times last year and that he was feeling better Week 7 against the Bills.

The Chattanooga product let up three hurries in that game.

“This year I felt a little bit more sure,” Strange said. “Like there are still dudes who are big and strong enough to move you out of the way, but I do feel a little bit better weight wise this year for sure.”

So, what exactly is the process for a 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive line to add weight midseason?

“Eat as much as you can without — there’s a goal of weight that you try to get to,” Strange said. “You want to kind of slowly get there over time. Obviously you’re lifting and working out too. I’d say a mirror check every now and then is good. If I’m standing there and hitting one of those numbers, like I need to chill out, subtract the Little Debbies.”

It was mentioned to Strange that former Patriots offensive lineman Ted Karras would eat an entire box of cereal — with milk — every night to keep his weight up. Strange might give that a shot.

It’s better than the alternative he tried in the past.

“For a short period of time, and this is probably what led to me starting the mirror check because I was looking like a lard-ass, is I would get like a big bowl and put a bunch of Oreos in there and fill it up with milk and then eat it like cereal.

“I went to Trader Joe’s. They just have chocolates and cookies, and I got a bunch of that. And I was like, ‘I have to slow down on this.’”

So, now it’s back to chicken and rice for Strange. And maybe some nightly cereal.

It’s helped him immensely to be back on the practice field in recent weeks. Strange missed most of training camp with a knee injury suffered on the first day of padded practices. It even kept him out of Week 1. He was back on the field for Week 2 before suffering another knee injury late in the Patriots’ Week 3 win over the Jets. He started Week 7 but is still officially listed as limited on the injury report.

“The best thing you can do is taking mental reps and watching film and trying to stay locked in that way,” Strange said. “But there’s really no replacement for just going through those movements, for me at least. Some guys I think can watch film and don’t have to practice. They’re just good. But I gotta practice and even then, I’ve got to practice for weeks so I can get back into my groove. It’s tough not being able to do that.”

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones faced just seven pressures in Sunday’s win. The offensive line averaged over 14 pressures per game over the first six weeks of the season. Strange’s return — and some added weight — helped. So too did a return and a move from right guard to right tackle for Mike Onwenu and strong play from rookie right guard Sidy Sow.

Cunningham was waived by the Patriots on Tuesday. He cleared waivers Wednesday at 4 p.m. before agreeing to rejoin the practice squad.

Head coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday morning that the Patriots planned to bring Cunningham back to the practice squad as long as another team didn’t claim him. Belichick said waiving Cunningham on Tuesday was what was “best for the team.”

Cunningham started the 2023 season on the practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster ahead of Week 6.

Cunningham has played wide receiver, quarterback and special teams for the Patriots since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Louisville.

Cunningham was only active for one game, the Patriots’ Week 6 loss to the Raiders. They signed him to their 53-man roster to back up Mac Jones at quarterback and provide additional wide receiver depth. They added him to the 53-man roster, rather than elevating him, in Week 6 so they could use the emergency third quarterback designation on Bailey Zappe. Both active quarterbacks and the emergency third QB all have to be on the 53-man roster.

Uche (knee) had appeared in every game before sitting out last weekend. He has two sacks, six tackles and three QB hits on the season.

Rookie defensive lineman Keion White was the only player missing at Wednesday’s practice. White continues to recover from a concussion he suffered 11 days ago at Las Vegas.

After starting at right tackle versus the Bills, offensive lineman Mike Onwenu again worked with the tackles at the start of Wednesday’s practice. Another offensive lineman, Vederian Lowe, appeared limited. Lowe replaced starting left tackle Trent Brown for one series against Buffalo after Brown suffered an apparent knee injury. Brown later returned to finish the game.

The Patriots will release their first injury report of the week Wednesday evening.

After struggling mightily over the first six weeks of the season, including two mid-game benchings, Jones finally looked like the player who showed so much promise as a rookie in 2021.

Jones really didn’t have a signature win on his resume through two-plus seasons in the NFL, and Sunday’s win represented that. It featured just his second career fourth-quarter comeback and game-winning drive, and his first since 2021.

It helped, of course, that the offense as a whole played much better Sunday. Jones was pressured on just seven dropbacks and was 4-of-4 for 42 yards with a touchdown on those plays. And the return of rookie slot receiver Demario Douglas gave the passing game a spark.

So, how do the Patriots make sure they now replicate that Sunday when they travel to Miami to play the Dolphins?

One way is staying consistent.

“That’s really the word of the week for us,” Jones said. “How can we do it over and over again and put good days and good plays together is what I’m going to say.”

Jones has faced plenty of criticism — most of it fair — for his performance this season. After he was benched in Weeks 4 and 5 after the score got out of hand in losses to the Cowboys and Saints, even people within the organization were wondering how head coach Bill Belichick could stick with Jones as the starting quarterback.

The Patriots didn’t have any better options in Bailey Zappe, Will Grier or Malik Cunningham, so Belichick stuck with Jones. It paid off in Week 7, but now the Patriots have to prove Sunday’s win wasn’t just an aberration.

“Really just want to build off the momentum and continue to do it,” Jones said. “Do it over and over again, stick to the process, have expectations for yourself and don’t pay attention to the other expectations. That’s going to be big for me, and really starts in practice, right? Try to focus on how you can do it again, and how you can stack good days together, and that’s going to be a very big focus for me this week.”

The third-year pro has completed 66.7% of his passes this season for 1,480 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. He ranked third among qualified quarterbacks in expected points added (EPA) per play last week, fourth in success rate and eighth in completion percentage over expected. He had the second-lowest attempted air yards, however. And he still had just one big-time throw and one turnover-worthy play, per PFF’s charting.

And one game ultimately doesn’t prove anything. On the season, he ranks 29th out of 33 qualified QBs in EPA per play, 18th in success rate and 25th in completion percentage over expected. He’s attempted the 26th most air yards per passing attempt. He’s PFF’s 30th-highest graded passer.

Jones didn’t attempt a single deep pass in Sunday’s game, but the Patriots still generated four passing plays of 20-plus yards. They had just eight explosive passing plays coming into Week 7.

“Just want to try to do it again,” Jones said. “What did we do well, and how can you replicate that? And what did we not do well? And how do we learn from it?”

Jones was asked if it’s easier to prepare after coming off of a positive performance like Sunday’s.

“I always talk about the process and kind of what I do each week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and then get ready for the game on Saturday,” Jones said. “Regardless of what happens, it’s a one-game season every week. And we understand that here, and that’s important to understand, because you have to go do it every week.”

Sunday’s win has as much bearing on Jones’ performance moving forward as the first six weeks of the season. But if the Patriots’ new offensive line configuration of left tackle Trent Brown, left guard Cole Strange, center David Andrews, right guard Sidy Sow and right tackle Mike Onwenu can stay in place and continue to hold defenders at bay, then Jones will have much better shot at being efficient in Week 8.

Jones and wide receiver Kendrick Bourne have connected for six-plus receptions and over 60 yards in consecutive games. And Douglas has certainly earned consistent playing time moving forward.

It’s possible the Patriots have found the keys to their offensive success. But they’ll have to keep proving it before anyone should believe it.

Belichick said that the Patriots will want to add Cunningham back to their practice squad if he clears waivers Wednesday. Belichick said waiving Cunningham on Tuesday was what was “best for the team.”

It’s not unreasonable to believe Cunningham could clear waivers. He was waived in late August, and no other NFL team claimed him. He spent the first five weeks of the 2023 season on the practice squad, and no team signed him off and onto their 53-man roster.

Cunningham has played wide receiver, quarterback and special teams for the Patriots since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Louisville.

Cunningham was only active for one game, the Patriots’ Week 6 loss to the Raiders. They signed him to their 53-man roster to back up Mac Jones at quarterback and provide additional wide receiver depth. They signed him, rather than elevating him, so they could use the emergency third quarterback designation on Bailey Zappe. Both active quarterbacks and the emergency third QB all have to be on the 53-man roster.

The Patriots have activated wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, offensive lineman Riley Reiff, safety Cody Davis and cornerback Jack Jones off of PUP and injured reserve lists since Week 5. They’ve also had to navigate difficult injury situations at wide receiver and on the offensive and defensive line.

Their latest move was to waive quarterback/wide receiver Malik Cunningham on Tuesday, opening up a spot on their 53-man roster. Cunningham was signed to the 53-man roster to back up starting quarterback Mac Jones and provide wide receiver depth in Week 6. The Patriots could not have used Bailey Zappe as their emergency third quarterback if Cunningham had only been temporarily elevated from the practice due to an NFL rule. The hope is to get Cunningham back on the practice squad if he clears waivers.

The Patriots now have some freedom to add a 53rd player to their roster, and they have a number of in-house options.

The top candidate is wide receiver Jalen Reagor, who played a season-high 25 snaps in Sunday’s win over the Bills. Reagor, who’s impressed the team in practice, has used up all three of his practice squad elevations seven weeks into the season. If the Patriots want to put him back on the field Sunday against the Dolphins, then they would need to sign him.

“Jalen’s come in, been a really good scout team player for us,” head coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday. “We played against a lot of top receivers, and he’s gotten a lot of good opportunities with some of the routes that those guys run to kind of be featured a little bit on some of the scout team plays. He’s earned some playing time, which has come from his practice time, practice performance.

“He’s picking up the offense, and we’ll see how it goes. But he’s got good talent, good guy to work with, glad we have him.”

If the Patriots signed Reagor to the 53-man roster, that move likely would not be made official until Saturday at 4 p.m.

There are other practice squad options to sign to the 53-man roster. Defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms is out of practice squad elevations after serving as depth with Daniel Ekuale on injured reserve. The Patriots elevated another defensive tackle, Trysten Hill, last week against the Bills.

Offensive tackle Conor McDermott also recently re-signed to the practice squad. The Patriots settled their offensive line last week by moving Mike Onwenu from right guard to right tackle and starting rookie Sidy Sow at right guard. But left tackle Trent Brown suffered an injury in that game, and McDermott could be viewed as better tackle depth than Calvin Anderson and Vederian Lowe, both of whom have been benched this season. Lowe also suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s win.

The Patriots also could use more depth at edge defender with Keion White (concussion) and Josh Uche (ankle/knee) banged up. Williams Bradley-King, a 2021 seventh-round pick by the Commanders out of Baylor, is on the practice squad. McDermott, Hill and Bradley-King could be practice squad elevations rather than 53-man roster signings, however.

The team also could sign a player from another team’s practice squad or make a trade before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

Belichick, Don Shula and George Halas are the only coaches to hold that honor.

Patriots QB Mac Jones said Monday afternoon on WEEI’s “Jones & Mego with Arcand” program that he congratulated Belichick for the accomplishment.

“Yeah, I think that’s really cool that that happened and I know we want more,” Jones said of the 2-5 Patriots. “I thought that was great that he got that done, and it was cool to be the quarterback for the game.”

Jones was asked what it’s like playing for Belichick, who’s just 17 wins away from passing Shula as the all-time wins leader.

“Yeah, I think it’s definitely a great experience,” Jones said. “I’ve been very fortunate to have played quarterback for — Corky Rogers was my high school coach, passed away, but winningest Florida coach in history. Obviously Coach (Nick) Saban and Coach Belichick. I guess I’ll have a good book one day.

“But yeah, it’s good to have that. I think that’s very important for players when you have a history of great coaches that you’ve worked with. I think that really helps.”

The sometimes-sullen Belichick was in a good mood this weekend, cracking jokes at the Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony honoring Dante Scarnecchia and Mike Vrabel. He was joking with the media after Sunday’s game, imploring ex-Patriots QB and 98.5 broadcaster Scott Zolak to give him a softball question.

Jones was asked if he gets to see that lighter side of Belichick often.

“I think everyone brings their own personality whether that’s a player — I think about someone like KB (Kendrick Bourne) who always has positive energy and things like that,” Jones said. “Coaches have their personalities too. I always say that about myself. Just be yourself, right? You gotta really enjoy the people that you’re working with regardless of the result. You have to enjoy it and go out there and compete every week. That’s players and coaches.”

Parker was on the field for just 35 snaps, which accounted for just 58% of offensive plays. That was his lowest snap count and play-time percentage since Week 1, when he was inactive with a knee injury.

Wide receiver Jalen Reagor, a 2020 first-round pick by the Eagles who was signed to the Patriots’ practice squad before the season, was the primary benefactor of Parker’s playing time reduction.

Reagor, who was elevated from the practice squad for the third time this season, played a season-high 25 snaps. The 24-year-old caught one 11-yard pass, while Parker hauled in one 8-yard grab.

“Jalen’s done a good job in the opportunities he’s had,” Belichick said Monday morning. “Trying to get all of our skill players in the game and give them an opportunity to make some plays. And we got some production from probably I think we got production from all of them. That’s been kind of a common thing throughout the year. We’ve had tight ends, receivers, running backs, those guys have had production. We just obviously need more of it. But that’s — try to get those guys in the game and let them help us.”

Parker, who signed a contract extension this offseason, dropped a deep pass from quarterback Mac Jones on the Patriots’ final offensive drive of their Week 7 loss to the Raiders. After that loss, Parker said the ball hit in the fingertips.

Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne played 56 snaps (93%) in Sunday’s win and led the team with six catches on seven targets for 63 yards with a touchdown, while rookie Demario Douglas was on the field for 37 snaps (62%) in starting slot receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster’s absence. Douglas caught four passes on six targets for 54 yards with a 20-yard rush. Second-year pro Tyquan Thornton played just three snaps (5%) and caught one 2-yard pass.

Reagor would need to be signed to the 53-man roster to see more playing time since he’s used up his three practice squad elevations.

It took moving Mike Onwenu from his natural position of right guard over to tackle in Sunday’s win over the Bills, and head coach Bill Belichick provided more detail on the decision Monday morning.

“There were a number of things involved but had a good conversation with Mike after the Raider game and ultimately I think everyone thought that was the best thing for us to do at this time,” Belichick said. “Went with it, had a good week. I thought he did a good job for us.”

The Patriots have had something of a revolving door at right tackle since the spring. Free-agent addition Riley Reiff was the first option to play at right tackle, but he moved to guard during the spring before a knee injury landed him on injured reserve before the season. He played one game in Week 5 before being placed back on injured reserve.

Conor McDermott was next in line for right tackle snaps, but he also suffered an injury during the summer. He was released with an injury settlement but is back with the team on the practice squad now. Rookie Sidy Sow then received snaps at right tackle this summer, but he’s been moved back to his college position of guard, where he started at Onwenu’s old post on the right side Sunday. The Patriots began the season with Calvin Anderson at right tackle, but he was benched after two games. Then Vederian Lowe, who was acquired via trade before the season, started the next four games at right tackle but struggled.

Prior to Sunday’s win over the Bills, Onwenu had only played right guard for the Patriots this season. He had previously thrived at right tackle but hadn’t lined up at the position in a regular season game since 2021, when he played left guard, right guard and right tackle. He also played all three positions as a rookie in 2020.

“Smart kid that understands all the different positions on the offensive line,” Belichick said Monday. “Pretty good fundamental player and obviously has good strength.”

Now the biggest question is whether Onwenu will start at right tackle or if the team will move him back to right guard and have McDermott play right tackle.

The Patriots’ offensive line held up better in Sunday’s game than they had all season, so it seems worth sticking with Trent Brown at left tackle, Cole Strange at left guard, David Andrews at center, Sow at right guard and Onwenu at right tackle.

Strange, who appears to have bulked up while recovering from a knee injury, returned and played well Sunday.

Douglas caught four passes on six targets for 54 yards, drew two penalties, carried the ball once for 20 yards and returned a punt for 25 yards. Returning from a concussion, the sixth-round pick finished second among Patriots wide receivers behind Kendrick Bourne with 24 routes run, per Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar.

“It’s a blessing just to show the world and then my teammates. I played for them today. I didn’t play for me. I played for my teammates,” Douglas said after the 29-25 win.

One reason Douglas played so much Sunday was because starting slot receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was inactive for the second straight week after suffering a concussion in Week 5.

“Pop’s [Demario Douglas]’s quick,” head coach Bill Belichick said. “You know, he got some separation on a few routes, made a couple tough catches. The seam pass was a good catch. He got held on the play action over route on the first drive, I think it was. Short yardage play.”

The Liberty product has a knack for making defenders miss. He’s the Patriots’ best receiver at getting open in man coverage and picking up yards after the catch.

“It just happens,” Douglas said. “I’d say it’s a little instinct. I play with confidence. I don’t want the first person to tackle me. So, it’s just a thing.”

He also was making difficult catches in Sunday’s game. He was robbed of a 6-yard catch at the end of the game when head coach Bill Belichick accepted a defensive pass interference penalty to save time on the clock on a play when Douglas fought through contact to make the catch.

“The ball come my way, I need to make that play,” Douglas said. “I’m trying to make it a (75)-25 ball, not no 50-50.”

Douglas has earned more snaps and has proven he’s one of the Patriots’ best playmakers. Smith-Schuster was a key offseason addition but has disappointed in the start to his Patriots career. Douglas is making it difficult for Smith-Schuster to take his starting role back, however.

The switch seemingly shored up the Patriots’ offensive line against a team that head coach Bill Belichick deemed the “best pass rush in the league” earlier this week.

Quarterback Mac Jones had noticeably more time to throw in Sunday’s 29-25 comeback win over the Bills in which he was sacked just once and hit three additional times.

“The offensive line play today really stood out to me,” Jones said. “They made everything work, run game, passing game. I had a couple plays where I dropped my eyes, and that’s not on them, that’s on me.”

Jones played his best game of the season with the improved protection.

“It was just putting everything together,” rookie offensive lineman Sidy Sow said after the game. “And just playing downhill, physical. I feel like sometimes it takes a little while for offensive linemen, five guys to figure out how to play, but today I think we put it all together, and we had a good game.”

Onwenu, who started four games at right guard before being active in an emergency setting last week, was moved to right tackle, where he has thrived in the past but hadn’t played in a game since 2021. Sow started in place of Onwenu at right guard, and 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange returned from injury to play left guard. Trent Brown stayed at left tackle, and David Andrews started at center.

The Patriots have been hesitant to move Onwenu from right guard, in part because he missed most of the summer with an ankle injury. They felt it would be putting too much on his plate to move him to his second-best position as he returned from an injury. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

Riley Reiff, who was seemingly signed in free agency to start at right tackle this offseason, was placed on injured reserve this week after playing just one game at guard. Calvin Anderson, also signed in free agency, was benched after two games. Vederian Lowe, who was acquired via trade before the season, struggled in his four starts at right tackle. Sow was moved back to his college position of guard, and Tyrone Wheatley Jr., also acquired via trade before the season, is also on injured reserve. The Patriots signed Conor McDermott back to the practice squad this week, but he wasn’t elevated before the game.

Belichick didn’t address why he moved Onwenu to right tackle, and he was noncommittal if he would stay on the edge.

“We’ll see,” Belichick said. “I’ll talk to Mike about it and see how it goes.”

Onwenu said after the game, “wherever I’m needed, I’m good.”

It’s clearly a collaborative decision between Onwenu and the team where he plays.

“Our first padded practice, I was asked if I felt comfortable enough,” Onwenu said. “I practiced it throughout the week, and they made the final decision.”

“Take a deep breath, and let’s go do it,” the quarterback said as his offense huddled down by three points with 1:58 left in Sunday’s game against the Bills.

Jones has been in these situations and came up short too many times in his NFL career. His last fourth-quarter comeback and game-winning drive was over two years ago on Oct. 10, 2021, against the Texans.

But on Sunday, he delivered in the 29-25 win over the Bills, defying odds and orchestrating a seven-play, 74-yard drive before delivering a 1-yard touchdown pass to his “guy,” tight end Mike Gesicki with 12 seconds remaining in the game. They celebrated with the “world’s fastest and most embarrassing griddy,” according to Gesicki.

The game-winning griddy @mikegesicki | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/ixVzUQhl6s

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 22, 2023

Simply leading a game-tying drive culminating with a field goal would have been enough to raise Jones’ standing in the region. A win was obviously even sweeter for the 25-year-old Alabama product.

So, what was different this time than Week 1, when he couldn’t finish a comeback against the Eagles, or Week 2 against the Dolphins or Week 6 against the Raiders or even last season against the Vikings?

“I think when you look at all of them, and I look at all of them a lot, there’s a lot of things that go on around, and I continue to focus on my job and continuing to read the plays that I’m supposed to and just lower my pulse and go out there and execute,” Jones said.

“Half of it’s just belief,” he continued. “And the other half is execution. Gotta continue to grow on that, and I think when you look at the other ones, you look back, it’s hard, right? Because you wish you had more, right? I’m going to look at the positive and grow on this and do it every time I get it.”

Jones went 25-of-30 for 272 with two touchdowns in Sunday’s win. It’s not an exaggeration to call this the best win of the third-year pro’s NFL career. The Patriots — entering the game with a 1-5 record as 7.5-point underdogs to the Bills — had won just two games in which they were not favored with Jones at quarterback during his NFL career. Sunday’s victory was just the second game-winning drive and fourth-quarter comeback of his career.

And all hope looked lost when the Bills took a three-point lead with less than two minutes left in the game.

“Mac made a good check on the blitz, got it to the weak side to (wide receiver DeVante) Parker, hit Pop (wide receiver Demario Douglas) down there, and had a good throw for a touchdown,” head coach Bill Belichick said of the two-minute drive after the game. “A lot of good football.”

Jones had been benched after the score got out of hand in consecutive losses in Weeks 4 and 5 to the Cowboys and Saints. He took a delay of game penalty followed by a safety in the final minutes of a Week 6 loss to the Raiders when he couldn’t outduel former Patriots backup Brian Hoyer in the second half.

It’s certainly too early to make any sweeping generalizations about what this means for Jones this season or even for the future of his career, but it was certainly a step in the right direction and what was needed for a quarterback who had played like one of the NFL’s worst starters through six weeks.

“I thought Mac did a great job today,” center David Andrews said. “Making the right decisions all day. And then obviously the big drive at the end, playing his best football when it mattered.”