New England Patriots

Patriots preseason Week 4: D.J. Foster likes and dislikes

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 1, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots running back D.J. Foster (27) runs with the ball during the first half of their game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps no New England Patriots roster bubble player saw as many opportunities last night as undrafted rookie running back D.J. Foster.

First off, here is D.J. Foster’s stat line from the loss to the New York Giants:

Nine carries, 22 yards; nine receptions, 110 yards

Now, let’s dive into what we liked and what we didn’t like from Foster’s night.

LIKE: Punt returning

Foster displayed capability as a punt returner by doing the one thing the Patriots demand out of their punt returners: cut your losses. Foster did not try to make something out of nothing; he calmly made his cuts and ducked ahead for positive yards. Foster did make some nifty moves on an 11-yard return in the first quarter.

There is a window of opportunity for D.J. Foster

Foster has already displayed a knack for open field running as a ball carrier and pass catcher out of the backfield; further proving his worth in punt returning will only strengthen his chances of edging out Tyler Gaffney for the final running back spot.

Sep 1, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) tackles New England Patriots running back D.J. Foster (27) in the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

LIKE: Catching

Foster caught everything thrown his way last night, leading the Patriots in both receptions (nine) and receiving yards (110). Throughout the course of the night, Foster flashed potential as a Dion Lewis/James White type of pass catching back. He did a great job reeling in an over-the-shoulder throw on a wheel route, a route that White struggles with occasionally. So that was certainly good to see out of Foster.

Predicting Patriots final depth chart, preseason Week 4 edition

However, the question is going to be whether or not the Patriots will elect to take not just one, but two receiving specialists at running back. White isn’t going to get cut, so that leaves Foster in a likely practice squad scenario. And that would be just fine, as Foster could grow and develop behind the scenes and get activated should injuries demand a promotion.

May 26, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears looks on as rookie running back D.J. Foster (27) runs drills during OTA

DISLIKE: Poor ball security

The one knock on Foster’s play last night was his rookie moment in the second quarter, when he fumbled the ball after making a sweet one-handed catch on a screen pass. As Foster made his initial steps after the catch, he never brought the ball firmly into his chest, and it cost him dearly when a Giants defender came crashing in from behind.

6 takeaways from the preseason so far

While the commonplace reaction to such a blunder is to say that Foster will see his stock plummet, that may not be the case. Remember, Dion Lewis made the team a year ago despite having some fumbling issues exposed in the preseason. It should also be noted that Bill Belichick was seen talking with Foster for an extended period of time on the sideline following the fumble. So don’t disregard Foster just because he made a mistake last night.

What was your impression of Foster last night?