The New England defense faces a stern test Week 1 against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. The defensive line will have their first opportunity to match up against a similarly mobile quarterback Friday night when Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers welcome the Patriots to Bank of America Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Here are five Patriots to keep an eye on as the team goes for a third preseason victory:

Rob Gronkowski

Will Gronk play?

There’s every chance the Patriots superstar tight end will spend Friday night where he spent the first two exhibition games: on the sideline. However, Gronkowski is included on this list because (a) if he does play all eyes will be on him, and (b) if he doesn’t play, it’s newsworthy — even though it’s not exactly a new development.


Last season, Gronkowski played in two preseason games, reeling in one pass for nine yards in the third matchup. Over the course of the season, Gronk caught 69 passes for 1,084 yards and picked up his fourth First-Team All-Pro award. Those were the only two preseason games he’s taken part in since 2013, and he had plenty of success in 2014 and 2015 as well.

The 29-year-old said this week playing in preseason is “always beneficial,” noting that while he has developed excellent chemistry and timing with Tom Brady over the years, the pair are constantly looking to improve.

“It’s always a coach’s decision on whether or not I’m playing in these games or not,” Gronkowski said. “I’m ready at all times. Whatever it is this week, I don’t know the situation, but I’m ready to play.

If Bill Belichick does elect to take the bubble wrap off his injury-prone cheat code, look for Tom Brady to try and neutralize Luke Kuechly and the other speedy Carolina linebackers by sending Gronkowksi downfield.

Eric Decker

The list of Patriots wide receivers is thinning faster than a Julian Edelman out route.

Danny Amendola’s decision to sign with the Dolphins, combined with Edelman’s four-game suspension, put a dent in the depth chart. Then New England released Jordan Matthews, cut Malcolm Mitchell, and did the same to Kenny Britt.


That leaves Edelman, Chris Hogan, and Phillip Dorsett atop the position heap, with Cordarrelle Patterson, Eric Decker, Riley McCarron, Devin Lucien, Braxton Berrios, Paul Turner, and Matthew Slater rounding out the wideout corps. The departures leave an easier road to the final 53-man roster for the receivers that remain.

Decker, who had some issues catching the ball early in the preseason and failed to bring in either of his two targets against the Eagles, will need to perform in the Patriots final two preseason games to lock up a roster spot. The 31-year-old has experience in a Josh McDaniels offense and three 1,000-yard seasons on his resume as he tries to build a case for sticking around.

He’ll be up against a depleted secondary on Friday night. The Panthers have lost two safeties and a cornerback to injury this preseason, so Decker should have a chance to seize the opportunity — and hold on to it.

Ja’Whaun Bentley

One game as a substitute was enough for Ja’Whaun Bentley. The rookie, a fifth-round pick out of Purdue, claimed Elandon Roberts’s spot in the starting lineup for the Patriots second preseason game against the Eagles. He had six tackles in the victory, in addition to a 54-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Bentley’s already taken himself out of the bubble conversation with his play this summer. On Friday, look for him to solidify a role as a significant contributor to the Patriots defense. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound linebacker has demonstrated his ability to stop the run, break up passes, and communicate with teammates. The scamper from midfield showed he can move that frame at speed if the opportunity presents itself.


His play drew high praise from the captain of the unit, Dont’a Hightower.

“I think he’s done a great job,” Hightower said. “I definitely think if he keeps moving in the right direction, he’s going to be a good ballplayer. Every day he strives to get better, even on a lackadaisical day. I commend him for that and a lot of veterans respect that.”

The hard-hitting Bentley now finds himself battling Roberts for the middle linebacker starting job. If the rookie can replicate his performance thus far on Friday night and carry that momentum into Week 1, he could be manning the heart of the defense when Houston comes to town.

Adrian Clayborn

Bentley’s 54-yard fumble recovery never happens if there isn’t a fumble to recover. For that, he has another new addition to the New England defense to thank: Adrian Clayborn. Clayborn slipped past his blocker and around the edge with ease on his way to Nick Foles in the second quarter. He then strip sacked the Eagles quarterback, forcing Foles from the game with a shoulder injury.

That sort of pressure was what the Patriots envisioned when they signed the veteran defensive end in March. Clayborn had a career-high 9.5 sacks for the Falcons last season, though six of those came in one game against a backup tackle. He’s hoping to make an impact on a pass rush that posted a decent sack total last season but couldn’t get to Foles when it mattered in Super Bowl LII.

“I think everyone in this league has respect for the Patriots and what they’ve done,” Clayborn said. “I’m just looking to add on to it.”

Clayborn should be licking his chops at the sight of Carolina’s offensive line at the moment. The unit has lost left guard Amini Silatolu, right tackle Daryl Williams, and left tackle Matt Kalil to knee injuries since training camp began. If Clayborn can make life difficult for Cam Newton (and then do the same when the reps begin in earnest in Sept.), he’ll prove that eye-popping sack count against the Cowboys last season was no fluke.

Ralph Webb

In Ralph Webb’s first game for the Patriots, the running back reached the end zone four times (two TDs, two 2-pt conversions). That was against the Redskins in the preseason opener, a performance that had his teammates buzzing in the locker room postgame and earned a shoutout from Bill Belichick.

The second matchup lacked the first’s fireworks for the undrafted free agent, who was limited to 15 yards on five carries by the Eagles defense. Webb is fighting for a roster spot against four veterans — James White, Rex Burkhead, Mike Gillislee, and Brandon Bolden — as well as two new Patriots: first-round draft pick Sony Michel and offseason addition Jeremy Hill.

For Webb to make the 53-man roster, he’ll need to replicate his initial success out of the backfield. The 23-year-old is staying focused on the day-to-day progress instead of worrying about the cuts to come.

“Make the most of the opportunities,” he said. “When you get ’em, just make the most of them. I’m not counting how many I get, I’m just making the ones I get count.”

There should be extra reps up for grabs with Michel out and Burkhead still limited in practice, but Hill and Gillislee will snap up most of those opportunities. Regardless, Webb knows it only takes one handoff to make an impact. If he does find himself on the field against the Panthers’ first-stringers, he’ll have not one but two massive Pro Bowl defensive linemen — Kawann Short and Dontari Poe — waiting for him in the gaps.