Could Joshua Uche be dealt by the Patriots at the trade deadline?

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Short-term thoughts and notes surrounding the New England Patriots and the NFL:

1. Note the deadline: For the second straight year, pass rusher Joshua Uche is among the Patriots' top players that teams have inquired about as the NFL's trade deadline approaches, according to team and league sources.

Uche's modest salary and ability to rush the passer make him an attractive option for teams exploring the possibility of adding players by the Nov. 5 deadline.

Meanwhile, the Patriots, who are 1-6 heading into Sunday's home game against the New York Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS), are currently positioned to be among the group of teams willing to trade players for future assets , and that's why Uche knows his time in New England could be short-lived.

“At the end of the day, I am an employee of the Patriots and if they believe it is in their best interest to trade me, I know they will do that. If there is an opportunity for them to build for the future, I know they will go to do that,” said Uche, who is set to become a free agent after the season.

“At this point there are a lot of rumors and a lot of information that (the media) has access to before me. So we'll see which of these pieces of information come true, but I know one.” One thing's for sure: wherever I am, I'm going to play damn good football. At this point it is what it is.

After not being traded at the deadline last year and appreciating how former coach Bill Belichick kept him informed of other teams' interests, Uche became an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2023. He re-signed with the Patriots — the team that drafted him in the second round out of Michigan in 2020 — on a one-year, $3 million contract, although he said he had the option of signing elsewhere for more money.

“I have no regrets,” Uche said. “When I accepted the one-year contract, a team-friendly contract with various offers on the table, I felt like I wanted to talk to the organization — to coach Mayo, to Mr. Kraft, to (Eliot) Wolf — that 'I'm trying my best 'To make it work here.' That's why I'm currently playing towards this deal because I feel like I'm worth more than this deal because I wanted to show how much I respect the people in this organization.

“While I'm here now, I can't ignore certain things about where I fit into the puzzle and the future of the team. So now I'm open to trying to maximize my abilities – since I'm only 26 years old, healthy, and I still feel like I have a lot to give to the game. I want to put myself in the best position to get the most out of this game, to get the best out of myself before I hang up the cleats.

The 1.90 meter tall and 110 kilogram heavy Uche has played in all seven games this season, including once in the starting line-up. He was on the field for 35% of defensive snaps, but played a season-low 11 snaps in a situational pass rusher role. He has 13 total tackles and two sacks.

Off the field, he said being accepted into Harvard Crossover Business School helped him learn beyond the actual game.

As far as football goes, he's prepared for whatever comes next – in New England or elsewhere. He has totaled 20.5 sacks in his career, including 11.5 in the 2022 season.

“There’s a role here that they have in mind for me — I’m a pass rusher, right? – and it's hard to get into situations where I can be successful when everything doesn't come together to create those opportunities. That's what I did. “I'm doing the best I can, and I'll continue to do the best I can,” he said.

“I know that if I somehow get into a situation where all of these things come together, I want to see what I'm capable of. I know we'll have a taste of that in 2022. And I just know that's me.” player. I've got a lot more to give, man, I've got a lot more to give.

2. “Soft” fallout: How did coach Jerod Mayo's postgame comments that the Patriots were a “soft team across the board” – what he later explained was a “soft game” – resonate in the locker room?

A common theme was that Mayo didn't say anything publicly that he hadn't already said to the team; Specifically, he believes a strong team runs the football, stops the run and covers kicks, and the Patriots aren't doing that right now.

At the same time, one noted that the comments were an unnecessary distraction for the team – a mistake from a new head coach. Most expressed the view that they wanted to use this as motivation.

“I think it has to challenge you. This is a physical game and you never want that to be your identity at all,” said veteran tight end Hunter Henry.

3. Baker on the bench: Before the Patriots can trust rookie receiver Javon Baker on the field, the fourth-round pick from Central Florida needs to gain even more trust. According to a team source, Baker had a “hiccup” in meeting at least part of the team's schedule last week in London and was inactive for the third straight day.

Baker, whose ability to play on the field was one of his greatest strengths coming out of college, played six offensive snaps and five special teams snaps in Week 2 and then did not play on offense while playing six snaps in Week 3 contributed on special teams. He hasn't seen the field since.

After returning from London, it was a team theme to tighten things up.

4. Thornton's Return: With Baker yet to break out and fellow rookie Ja'Lynn Polk (second round) out this week with a concussion, the Patriots are leaning towards Kendrick Bourne, KJ Osborn, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Tyquan Thornton as the five available receivers have Sunday.

It will be a return for Thornton, the 2022 second-round pick who was a healthy scratch the past two weeks but who Mayo said would be on the game-day roster this week.

“Tyquan has a high football IQ and understands spacing on the field,” receivers coach Tyler Hughes said. “We talk about it in our room that when we run our routes, sometimes we have to do it to get other people open. I think Tyquan understands how our concepts fit together; He’s a good team player in that regard.”

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye last week referred to this concept as the “love of the game route” – a receiver going hard even when he knows the ball probably won't come his way.

5. Maye vs. Rodgers: Since 1990, Maye will become the fourth Patriots quarterback to make one of his first three career starts against the Jets, joining Scott Zolak (1992), Matt Cassel (2008) and Mac Jones (2021). Part of what makes this game unique for Maye is that the quarterback on the other sideline is Aaron Rodgers, who he looked up to as a youngster and whose greeting he waited on the field after the Patriots-Jets game in Week 3. Rodgers later reached out to Maye on Instagram to let him know how much he appreciated it.

6. OL series online: At the end of the week of training, starting player Vederian Lowe felt that his injured right ankle had responded well to training, giving him a greater chance of potentially returning after missing last week.

If that happens, it would likely break the team's streak of having a different starting offense in every game this season. Lowe at left tackle, Michael Jordan at left guard, Ben Brown at center, Mike Onwenu at right guard and Demontrey Jacobs at right tackle would be the same starting lineup as in Week 6 against the Texans.

But if Lowe doesn't play, there will likely be an eighth different starting line, with instability having impacted the team's run blocking in recent weeks, according to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

7. Ekuale sick: Veteran defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale was thrust into the starting lineup this season after the Patriots lost Christian Barmore (blood clot) in the preseason and played more than anyone else at the position (74.5% of defensive snaps). The increased workload caught up with him on Thursday when he suffered a strained oblique muscle during practice, according to a team source, and then was held out of Friday's practice.

Ekuale is questionable for Sunday's game, and if he can't go, Jaquelin Roy, Eric Johnson II and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. are available to replace Davon Godchaux.

8. You said it: “We saw on tape his toughness and his ability to hang in dirty pockets; that's one of the very first things I looked for in (North) Carolina, so I knew he was capable of it. But until you see it in an NFL game – you have to see it and we saw it. – Patriots QBs coach TC McCartney on Maye

9. Kraft's approach: Despite a six-game losing streak, owner Robert Kraft struck a patient tone in London last week when it came to Mayo and some of his and the team's growing pains.

“Not everything is happening as quickly as I would like,” Kraft said at a fan event the night before the team’s 32-16 loss to the Jaguars. “Little things make a difference. We had to change everything (from 2023). I think they are making good progress and I love the chemistry in the locker room.”

10. Did you know?: If the Patriots lose to the Jets on Sunday and fall to 0-3 in AFC East play, it would be the first time since 1994 that they have lost their first three league games in a season.