Stock Watch: Carr and Hollister Shine, Jones Firmly on the Bubble

It was a week to forget and one to remember as week No. 1 of the preseason has come to a close. Here are some of the players/units on the rise and fall.

Stock up: Jacob Hollister

What a game for Jacob Hollister. The tight end out of Wyoming had seven catches for 116 yards including a highlight reel hurdle over Jaguars cornerback Jalen Myrick.

Through one week of preseason, Hollister is second in receptions and yards.

“He’s done a good job of adapting to the things that we’ve asked him to do,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said of Hollister during his Patriots.com Friday conference call,  . “He’s learning. He’s got a long way to go. There are a lot of things that he needs work on in all phases of the game – running game, passing game, kicking game. But he’s a hard-working kid. He’s out there every day, and he’s made improvement.”

It’s indeed still preseason and in the past, players like Zach Sudfeld and Chris Harper faded into the night once the regular season flag went up, but it’s still a good start for the rookie. Still, Hollister is trying to become a trusted target for all quarterbacks on the team.

“(I was) trying to make it obvious to (the quarterbacks) that I can make plays and make them feel comfortable throwing to me,” Hollister said to The Boston Globe. “I’m just doing what I can for the team and showing all of my teammates I can’t be trustworthy.”

Stock down: Patriots second team defense 

You could say this group laid a big giant egg and it would be considered an understatement. Giving up 31 points to a mediocre first team and second team Jacksonville Jaguar offense gives cause for concern in this area.

While Kenny Moore still played very well in the secondary, and 3rd round selection Derek Rivers was getting pressure on quarterbacks, there was still a lot of missed assignments and a lot of deep ball connections that should not have happened. Yes we will be talking about you soon Cyrus Jones.

Stock crashing: Cyrus Jones

The Cyrus Jones era is almost certainly done in New England and this performance against the second team of the Jaguars proves this to a T.

Jones was burned for two touchdown passes including the game winning score to rookie wide receiver Dede Westbrook and a 97 yard touchdown pass to Keelan Cole. Chad Henne of all people.

Jones handled the ball well on punts and kicks but no that doesn’t make up for it. His spot belongs to someone else on the roster.

Stock through the roof: Austin Carr

five receptions for 44 yards on six targets in preseason never looked so good. Carr is undoubtedly the talk of the town in Foxborough and for good reason.

Carr talked to NESN about his performance after the game Thursday night praising the veterans and saying that it is indeed very hard to make it in the NFL and there is still a lot of work to do.

“It’s a grind day-by-day. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The [veterans] are very selfless. They’re coaching us up on the sidelines,” Carr said after the game. “It’s very difficult, obviously, to make it in the NFL, but having the kind of system here and the kind of support in the wide receiver room and with the coaches really sets you up for success.”

Belichick is raising an eyebrow and Amendola should keep looking over his shoulder as Carr is making a huge case to make the 53-man roster and possibly some playing time during the regular season.