FOXBORO — The timing was impeccable for Tyquan Thornton’s return to observe from injured reserve this week for the Patriots
With huge receivers Demario Douglas and JuJu Smith-Schuster lacking two straight practices in concussion protocol, the Patriots want reinforcements quick on the place.
DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and rookie Kayshon Boutte are the one wholesome huge receivers on the 53-man roster. Thornton continues to be on injured reserve however was designated to return Tuesday. The group has huge receivers Jalen Reagor, Malik Cunningham and T.J. Luther on the observe squad. And tight finish Mike Gesicki and working again Ty Montgomery should be talked about, as effectively, since they each have in depth expertise enjoying out of the slot.
Bourne is anticipating Thornton to play Sunday in opposition to the Raiders.
“Looking good,” Bourne mentioned about what he’s seen from Thornton at observe. “Fast. He looks good. He looks healthy. Looks ready to go.”
Projecting a three-man huge receiver corps for Sunday’s sport should embody Thornton. This is why the group drafted him fiftieth total within the 2022 NFL Draft. But there’s additionally not a whole lot of precedent to counsel Thornton will make an on the spot affect regardless of his pedigree and 4.28-second 40-yard sprint pace.
Thornton began his second straight season on injured reserve with a shoulder harm. He was on and off the observe discipline early this summer time earlier than touchdown awkwardly on a diving try in Green Bay throughout joint practices with the Packers and missed the remainder of coaching camp and the preseason.
“We’re glad to have him back,” defensive again Myles Bryant mentioned of Thornton. “What he brings to the game with his speed, we’ve seen a lot of that. Just seeing him out there running and doing what he does.”
Thornton had truly been handed on the depth chart by Douglas earlier in the summertime. The cause, per a supply, was that Thornton nonetheless had lots to show to the group.
Now’s the time to earn some belief because the Patriots rank useless final in anticipated factors added (EPA). They’re final in EPA per dropback and EPA per rush. Their huge receivers battle to get open in opposition to man protection, they usually’ve lacked a pace aspect with dimension.
Quarterback Mac Jones is seventh within the NFL with 22 deep passing makes an attempt, per PFF. But he’s related on simply 5 of them for 119 yards with two touchdowns. His 22.7% deep completion fee ranks thirty second out of 34 certified QBs. He’s twenty third in deep completions and twenty eighth in deep passing yards.
Bourne has been Jones’ high focused receiver downfield, however he’s caught simply 2-of-10 deep makes an attempt for 30 yards with two touchdowns. Jones is 3-of-6 concentrating on Douglas deep, 0-of-2 to Boutte, Montgomery and Parker, and 0-of-1 to Smith-Schuster.
Thornton’s pace and dimension received’t essentially translate to extra deep passing success, nonetheless. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound receiver caught simply 3-of-14 deep makes an attempt from Jones in 2022 for 74 yards. Overall, regardless of enjoying over 50% of the group’s offensive snaps, Thornton caught simply 22 passes for 247 yards with two touchdowns final season.
Thornton’s greatest match within the Patriots’ offense is within the “Z” position. Parker performs the “X,” and Bourne may transfer inside to the slot from “Z” in three-receiver units if Douglas and Smith-Schuster are out.
Thornton nonetheless may not play near 100% of snaps, nonetheless. It can be good for the Patriots to play Gesicki recurrently within the slot. The Raiders have struggled to defend tight ends thus far this season, rating twenty fourth in DVOA.
Gesicki hasn’t precisely flourished in his new offense thus far both. He has 12 catches for 116 yards, however this sport has breakout potential for the previous Dolphins tight finish with elevated snaps in an advantageous matchup.
Boutte, Reagor and Cunningham are intriguing choices, as effectively, for various causes. Boutte performed a ton in Week 1 as he stuffed in for Parker within the “X” position and has been a wholesome scratch ever since. He has the potential to be combined into the “Z” position on Sunday. Reagor was lively for one sport as an elevation off of the observe squad however didn’t see any motion. He, like Thornton, can deliver a pace aspect, and he’s truly been practising for the final 5 weeks. Cunningham didn’t look able to play huge receiver this summer time, however with Jones’ points this season, it wouldn’t harm to provide the undrafted rookie snaps underneath middle with choice appears in short-yardage conditions.
Source: www.bostonherald.com