The Patriots made their move. Hassan Haskins is in. Myles Montgomery, sidelined by injury, is out. On the surface, it's a routine depth chart shuffle during preseason grunt work. But roster decisions at running back this late in August are rarely about filling a roster spot—they're about conviction. And Vrabel clearly has it in Haskins.
This matters because the Patriots' backfield picture was already crowded. Rhamondre Stevenson anchors the room. TreVeyon Henderson flashes upside. Behind them sits a mix of lottery tickets: Jam Miller, Deneric Prince, Elijah Mitchell, and others fighting for the final RB spots. Adding Haskins means someone's getting squeezed out, and Montgomery's injury status made him the obvious casualty. The Patriots aren't wasting a healthy roster spot on a player who can't contribute to tonight's battle against Indianapolis.
What's interesting is the timing. This is preseason football when teams are supposed to evaluate depth and development. Waiving an injured player isn't dramatic—it's standard procedure. But signing Haskins suggests the Patriots see something they like. Whether he's a potential league contributor or just a camp body with enough juice to merit a look, we'll get answers fast. Preseason evaluations move quick under Vrabel.
Tonight's Colts matchup becomes a showcase for exactly these depth wars. Kindle Vildor and Marcellas Dial Jr. are battling for cornerback snaps. Across the roster, fringe roster guys have one more chance to make a case. Haskins gets his first audition. And Montgomery? He's yesterday's news now, dealing with whatever kept him off the field while the Patriots move forward.
The message is clear: Vrabel's regime doesn't wait around. You contribute or you don't. Montgomery couldn't. Haskins gets his shot.
Based on reporting from Pats Pulpit.