Anfernee Jennings Makes Most Of Time On The Patriots Roster’s Edge

No. 33 Anfernee Jennings recorded three sacks after halftime in the New England Patriots’ preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

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The writing is often on the wall when an NFL veteran is on the field late in a preseason game.

But if that’s the case for Anfernee Jennings, he made the most of his time out there after halftime at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Only a campaign removed from signing a three-year, $12 million contract extension with $5.5 million guaranteed, the New England Patriots outside linebacker finds himself on the bubble. That made for a busy Saturday.

That wasn’t good news for the Minnesota Vikings.

The 28-year-old hit home for three sacks in what became a 20-12 win. And in a hurry.

The initial takedown arrived at the 5:41 mark in the third quarter as Jennings went unblocked, chased backup quarterback Max Brosmer out of play action and swept the shoelaces of the rookie free agent for a loss of 14 yards.

A delay-of-game penalty followed for the offense. So did the next takedown on the next snap. It saw right tackle Leroy Watson IV turned around. It saw the punt team head on for fourth-and-35.

There was more work to be done to secure the hat-trick. There was the final quarter, long after a long line of New England teammates had become sideline spectators.

“I’ve seen a competitiveness, and Anfernee has been around, and we’ve had really good conversations,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said during his postgame press conference on Saturday. “You try to draft some guys and there are some young guys in here and that’s a fine balance.”

With 12:08 remaining, Jennings remained on the edge with a hand on the turf. From there, the University of Alabama product ripped up field and broadsided the quarterback on third-and-5.

Defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. helped the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Jennings up to his feet. His afternoon spanned 23 snaps on defense to go with work on special teams. He previously played a combined 43 snaps in the summer opener versus the Washington Commanders.

“We have to have 11 out there every play,” Vrabel said of preseason personnel usage. “And so, this is the third week of our first training camp together as a coaching staff and as a team. That’s what I wanted everybody to realize. It’s in the third week of our first year. We have to get this right, and everybody just be prepared to play and for however long that you’re in there, or whenever you’re asked to help on special teams.”

But there’s an inevitability to August. On a depth chart featuring starters Keion White and Harold Landry III, rotational rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, offseason award winner Truman Jones and rookies Bradyn Swinson and Elijah Ponder, there’s difficult decisions coming.

An active roster of 91 will soon stand at 53. Time will tell where the NFL’s cutdown deadline leaves a two-time national champion whose tenure in Foxborough dates back to 2020.

The Patriots career has included 61 games and 37 starts for Jennings. Known for setting a strong edge, the former No. 87 overall pick has totaled 191 tackles, including 22 for loss, and 5.5 sacks. He’s also had a hand in three batted passes, two forced fumbles and one recovery.

“To his credit,” added Vrabel, “he’s done nothing but compete in practice, earn reps, earn opportunities in the game, and take advantage of every one that he’s gotten and to factor today, and even last week.”