New England arrives Week 1 with cornerback depth thinning: Christian Gonzalez is out and Charles Woods downgraded to out, leaving Marcus Jones as the primary playmaker with backup options. Corey Ballentine steps in on defense and special teams after a waiver claim, while Marcellas Dial’s season-ending injury compounds the challenge. Week 1 versus Las Vegas tests how swiftly the new depth can hold up against a Raiders aerial attack.

Woods’ potential role as a big nickel blitzer and Ballentine’s veteran versatility could shape the early secondary, with Jones handling the slot duties. If the group holds, Ballentine’s kick-returns experience and Woods’ preseason nose for pressure offer the Pats a spark in both coverage and special teams, even as the Raiders look to stretch the edge of New England’s depth early in the season.