Patriots vs. Bengals snap counts: New faces leaving mark on offense

The New England Patriots made an effort this offseason to improve what was one of the worst offenses in the NFL in 2023. Sunday’s regular season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals offered a first true look at the investments made, and it is safe to say that they left their mark on the unit.

Led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett, three offseason additions were on the field for all 65 offensive snaps: besides Brissett, the two starting guards — practice squad call-up Michael Jordan and fourth-round rookie Layden Robinson — went wire-to-wire as well. In addition, wide receiver K.J. Osborn played a position-high 40 snaps and was tied for the team lead with three reception (that he took for 21 yards).

The Patriots’ leader in receiving yards on Sunday was also added in the spring. Austin Hooper, who played 36 snaps as a No. 2 tight end alongside Hunter Henry, gained 31 yards on his two receptions.

All five of those players had sizable roles on offense in Week 1. With the exception of Jordan — who is likely to return to backup duty once starter Sidy Sow returns from an ankle injury — little is expected to change moving forward.

With that said, here is our snap count report from the Patriots’ win over the Bengals.

Offense

Total snaps: 65 | Time on the field: 32:57

QB Jacoby Brissett* (65; 100%), LG Michael Jordan* (65; 100%), C David Andrews* (65; 100%), RG Layden Robinson* (65; 100%), RT Michael Onwenu* (65; 100%), TE Hunter Henry* (54; 83%), LT Vederian Lowe (53; 82%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson* (51; 78%), WR K.J. Osborn* (40; 62%), WR DeMario Douglas* (39; 60%), WR Tyquan Thornton* (38; 58%), TE Austin Hooper (36; 55%), WR Ja’Lynn Polk (35; 54%), OT/TE Caedan Wallace (18; 28%), RB Antonio Gibson (14; 22%), LT Chukwuma Okorafor* (12; 18%)

*denotes starter

Four other offseason acquisitions besides the five highlighted above also saw action on offense. Second-round rookie Ja’Lynn Polk was a rotational option at wide receiver, finishing with 35 snaps; third-rounder Caedan Wallace was employed as a jumbo tight end/sixth O-lineman on 18 snaps; Antonio Gibson allowed RB1 Rhamondre Stevenson to get a breather on occasion and finished with 14 snaps and seven carries for 18 yards.

Then, there was Chukwuma Okorafor. The free agency pickup started the game at left tackle, but was benched after 12 snaps in favor of a convalescent Vederian Lowe. Despite Lowe missing time with an abdominal injury lately, he was inserted into the lineup in the first quarter and proved to be an upgrade over the struggling starter.

Elsewhere, the wide receiver group looked as expected. Besides the aforementioned Osborn, DeMario Douglas and Tyquan Thornton filled the starting roles at the position. They caught two passes each in their 39 and 38 snaps, respectively.

Defense

Total snaps: 51 | Time on the field: 25:16

S Kyle Dugger* (51; 100%), S Jabrill Peppers* (51; 100%), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley* (51; 100%), CB Christian Gonzalez* (51; 100%), DE/ED Keion White* (41; 80%), CB Marcus Jones* (41; 80%), LB/ED Jahlani Tavai* (37; 73%), DT Daniel Ekuale* (37; 73%), CB Jonathan Jones* (36; 71%), DT Davon Godchaux* (33; 65%), ED Anfernee Jennings* (28; 55%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (24; 47%), DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (23; 45%), CB Marco Wilson (15; 29%), ED Joshuah Uche (13; 25%), ED Oshane Ximines (11; 22%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (11; 22%), DT Trysten Hill (7; 14%)

*denotes starter

The Patriots had four players on the field for every one of their 51 defensive snaps, and it was who you would expect it to be: safeties Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers, linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, and No. 1 cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Peppers’ presence among that group is particularly noteworthy given that he aggravated a hip injury just 48 hours before kickoff.

Other players who saw a notable workload include defensive lineman Keion White, who finished with the third-highest playing time share of his career (80%) and was a menace up front all day. With him emerging as a starter-caliber player, team captain Deatrich Wise Jr. took on more of a rotational role and was on the field for 23 snaps compared to White’s 41.

In the middle of the defense, the Patriots turned to Daniel Ekuale to help replace Christian Barmore. With the starter missing at least four weeks on the non-football injury list, Ekuale stepped up and led all defensive tackles with 37 snaps.

On the edge, meanwhile, the Patriots employed the versatile White as well as Anfernee Jennings as their top options. In addition, they used a mix of Wise Jr., Jahlani Tavai, Joshua Uche and Oshane Ximines.

Special Teams

Total snaps: 21 | Time on the field: 1:47

S Jaylinn Hawkins (17; 81%), ED Oshane Ximines (17; 81%), LB Raekwon McMillan (17; 81%), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (17; 81%), S Brenden Schooler (17; 81%), LB Christian Elliss (17; 81%), S Dell Pettus (12; 57%), P/H Bryce Baringer (9; 43%), LS Joe Cardona (9; 43%), K Joey Slye (8; 38%), LB Jahlani Tavai (7; 33%), ED Anfernee Jennings (7; 33%), CB Alex Austin (7; 33%), S Kyle Dugger (6; 29%), DE Keion White (6; 29%), RB/KR JaMycal Hasty (6; 29%), S Jabrill Peppers (5; 24%), G Layden Robinson (4; 19%), G Michael Jordan (4; 19%), OT Michael Onwenu (4; 19%), OT Vederian Lowe (4; 19%), TE Austin Hooper (4; 19%), OT Caedan Wallace (4; 19%), OL Nick Leverett (4; 19%), RB/KR Antonio Gibson (3; 14%), CB/PR Marcus Jones (3; 14%), CB Marco Wilson (3; 14%), ED Joshuah Uche (3; 14%), TE Jaheim Bell (3; 14%), DT Daniel Ekuale (2, 10%), DT Davon Godchaux (2, 10%)

In light of Brenden Schooler seeing increased opportunities at safety in training camp and preseason, there was speculation about how the Patriots would use their kicking game personnel. At least on Sunday, it was largely employed separately from the rest of the roster.

A total of 12 players were used exclusively in the kicking game, which would have clearly been the highest such number last season. Among those, the core special teamers can easily be identified: besides the specialists, seven total players played more than half of the snaps in the game’s third phase, including two — Jaylinn Hawkins and Oshane Ximines — who also played on defense.

Did not play

WR Kayshon Boutte, QB Drake Maye

With Jacoby Brissett not leaving the field in a close game, and looking solid while doing so, the Patriots had no need to insert their first-round rookie quarterback into the lineup. Drake Maye therefore spent the entire game on the sidelines, joined by bottom-of-the-roster wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.

Inactive

WR Javon Baker, LB Curtis Jacobs, OT Demontrey Jacobs, DT Eric Johnson, QB Joe Milton (emergency QB), G Sidy Sow, OL Zachary Thomas

The Patriots’ inactives list featured no true surprises. Starting left guard Sidy Sow was out due to an ankle injury, while the other six players deactivated for the game were all healthy scratches: two draft picks (Javon Baker, Joe Milton) were made inactive as were all four of New England’s post-cutdown waiver wire acquisitions (Curtis Jacobs, Demontrey Jacobs, Eric Johnson, Zachary Thomas).