Patriots veteran safety Kyle Dugger seems to be trending in the wrong direction.
The 2020 second-round pick, who was elevated to captain in 2024 after former Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley suffered an injury, was running with the scout team defense during Day 14 of Patriots training camp on Monday. It continued a troubling trend as Dugger has all but lost his starting spot in the secondary.
“That’s usually not something that you would see a starter, or even a frequently-used contributor, doing in a situation when you have 90 guys on the roster and plenty of bodies,” Patriots insider Phil Perry said regarding the scout-team work during the Patriots Talk podcast.
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Patriots insider Tom E. Curran and Perry have kept close tabs on the developing situation.
Curran and Perry noted that Dugger has been working as the fourth safety behind fellow veteran Jabrill Peppers, second-year Patriot Jaylinn Hawkins and 2025 fourth-round pick Craig Woodson. He’s seeing snaps alongside cornerbacks Miles Battle and Kobee Minor, neither of whom were included on Perry’s 53-man roster projection.
Battle, specifically, is viewed as a developmental candidate for the Patriots practice squad.
“To me, Dugger, the way they used him especially in practice (Monday), it makes him look like a reserve defensive back,” Perry said.
Is that to say Dugger will be on the outside looking in when the Patriots trim down their 53-man roster before Aug. 27? No, not necessarily. Especially since Dugger is entering the second year of his four-year, $58 million contract and carries a daunting dead cap number should the Patriots release him, as Curran explained.
Whether it’s rooted in Dugger’s age, injury history, decline in production or combination of all the above, the Patriots might have a tough decision to make on the once impactful defender.
Also in this episode:
- Are Drake Maye’s turnovers cause for concern?
- How Mike Vrabel is getting the most out of Maye’s leadership.
- Breaking down how the offense looked on Day 14.
- Will Patriots overcome struggles against Vikings?
