FOXBORO — The Patriots’ defensive tackle depth has been tested in recent weeks, and rookie Eric Gregory has benefited from it with increased playing time.
Defensive tackles Milton Williams (ankle), Khyiris Tonga (foot) and Joshua Farmer (hamstring) have been dealing with injuries, leading to bigger roles for Gregory, Cory Durden, Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Leonard Taylor III.
Gregory, who was claimed off waivers from the Bengals in August, waited until Week 11 to make his NFL debut. He’s averaged 20 snaps in five games since that game, and he’s earned a 72.2 PFF grade with two pressures and two defensive stops.
“Doing his job,” interim defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr said Thursday when asked how Gregory has taken advantage of his opportunities. “He’s really bought into that, of taking pride in his job, improving his technique, his pad level. You see him improve upon his mistakes, not a ton of same mistakes. I think it’s just earned him more playing time because of that. More reliable.”
Gregory was a standout in Cincinnati in training camp and preseason, so some Bengals fans let their displeasure be known when they lost him on waivers to the Patriots.
It was a smart move by the Patriots to add Gregory back at the end of August so they can continue to develop him in the future.
Gregory is one of 13 rookies on the Patriots’ roster along with running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams, left guard Jared Wilson, safety Craig Woodson, outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson, kicker Andy Borregales, long snapper Julian Ashby, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, cornerback Kobee Minor, wide receiver Efton Chism, tight end CJ Dippre and outside linebacker Elijah Ponder.
They have two more rookies, left tackle Will Campbell and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer, on injured reserve. A 16th rookie, safety John Saunders Jr., who’s currently on the practice squad, has also been on the 53-man roster this season.
Get to know Gregory better on and off the field in the latest installment of our New Patriots Q&A series.
What’s your first football memory?
First football memory. I’m gonna say watching. Watching the Seahawks’ Legion of Boom. I’d probably say that.
What’s your top high school football memory?
My first sack, actually. That was during my 11th-grade year, when I started.
What’s your top college football memory?
Tennessee. The QB ran out, scrambled, sealed the game, push him out of bounds. One of those.
What made Arkansas special for you?
I’m gonna say just the state itself. There’s really no other football team there, so they embrace everybody. It’s kind of like the NFL to them, but at the college level.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a football player?
If I wasn’t a football player, that’s a great question. I kind of have a thing for cooking, so probably culinary arts or something like that.
Did you have a favorite athlete growing up?
Walter Payton.
Do you have a favorite movie?
Home Alone.
Do you have a favorite musical artist?
I’d say Lil Durk.
Who have you been closest with on the team so far?
I’m gonna say Farms, Joshua Farmer. We worked out at Exos together.
Who’s the funniest player on the team?
I’m gonna say Christian Barmore.
What have you liked most about the New England region so far?
Especially the Foxboro area, just how confined it is. There’s not really a lot to do, and I’m more of a homebody, so I like to go out around the area and see everything.
Is there a player in the league you feel is underrated or underappreciated?
I’m gonna say our guy, Marcus Jones.
Do you have a hidden talent?
I can cook.
What’s your best dish?
I’m getting more into steaks now. Anything grilled related or fried related, I think I can do pretty good.
Is there a topic you know more about than anyone else in the locker room?
Anime. Not all of it, but Dragon Ball Z or something like that.
