FOXBORO — Down in Miami, the large story of the week broke Thursday when Dolphins star Tyreek Hill advised reporters he deliberate to play this weekend towards the Patriots.
In New England, the Pats’ high information hit slightly in another way.
That headline learn: “Patriots sign Jalen Reagor from practice squad to active roster.”
Womp, womp.
No two tales may provide a clearer or stronger distinction between the state of those rival offenses. The Patriots are 2-5 as a result of they’ve slowed down by a porous offensive line and one of many league’s least threatening receiving corps. Meanwhile the Dolphins, even after getting thumped final Sunday in Philadelphia, are cruising at 5-2 with the NFL’s most explosive weaponry.
In Miami, Hill is the system, and the system is Hill. He leads the NFL in receiving with 906 yards and covers a whole bunch extra in pre-snap movement that stretches defenses. If he retired tomorrow, Hill may safely start to draft his speech for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2029 induction ceremony.
Reagor, in the meantime, is seen as a first-round bust. After two months in New England, he drew reward from Bill Belichick mid-week for the yards he’s lined on scout workforce. Reagor’s promotion got here after the Patriots exhausted his three allowable elevations from the observe squad to the game-day roster.
In three sport appearances, he has two catches. The Pats are formally on Plan Z at receiver.
Yet the extra fascinating piece of Reagor’s promotion just isn’t the participant, however the numbers crunch. The Patriots now roster seven large receivers, together with six who don’t play particular groups. None of the seven had been listed on Thursday’s harm report, making it unlikely any land on injured reserve within the coming days.
Considering the Pats sometimes activate 5 receivers on sport days, two must be destined to change into wholesome scratches for the foreseeable future.
That’s numerous useless weight to hold, particularly in gentle of extra data that’s emerged in latest days: JuJu Smith-Schuster rated because the worst receiver within the NFL per ESPN analytics; DeVante Parker has one catch in every of the final two video games; Tyquan Thornton has two catches on the season.
Rookie wideout Kayshon Boutte, who famously tapped one in every of his ft, however not each, on the finish of the season opener, is already knowledgeable wholesome scratch. He’s missed the Patriots’ final six video games. Reagor’s addition appears to have made Boutte redundant, contemplating each play the identical ‘X’ place, the place gamers are requested to win in isolation on the weak facet of offensive formations.
How lengthy can the Patriots stick with it like this? It’s like stocking your cabinets with unhealthy meals (Smith-Schuster and Parker), cans you may’t open (Thornton) or substances you have already got (Reagor and/or Boutte). Couldn’t the Pats use one or two of those spots on positions thinned out by harm, like defensive sort out or outdoors linebacker?
Another transfer should be coming.
Did the Pats pad their depth figuring out they might deal Kendrick Bourne by Tuesday’s commerce deadline?
Patriots’ first-round choose being helped by ‘mirror check’ and observe reps
Bourne is their No. 1 receiver by targets, catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Trading him now would imply promoting excessive. Bourne admitted final week the potential for getting dealt is weighing on him.
“Definitely will be on my mind, but just being ready for whatever man,” Bourne stated. “I want to be here, I love to be here, but if there are other plans then it is what it is.”
NFL executives have advised the Herald he ought to fetch a fifth or sixth-round choose on the open market. If the Patriots lose Sunday, there is no motive to not announce themselves as sellers on the deadline. It’s time for a rebuild, and Bourne is amongst their high belongings, alongside security Kyle Dugger, cross rusher Josh Uche and offensive lineman Mike Onwenu.
Might the Patriots discover a approach to half with Smith-Schuster?
No workforce is buying and selling for him. Releasing Smith-Schuster outright would value them tens of millions in cap area, room they do not presently have. Not to say, the ever low-cost Pats aren’t ones to flush money down the drain, even when Smith-Schuster’s nagging knee harm has already made him and his three-year, $25.5 million contract a sunk value.
The Patriots’ most certainly out comes subsequent summer time by way of commerce. That additionally goes for Parker, who’s soured quicker than a cup of milk unnoticed within the Miami warmth. Even then, they might discover no suitors.
The solely certainty appears to be one other receiver transaction will come first.
It has to, proper? Right?
Right?!
Source: www.bostonherald.com