The Patriots will be missing Josh Gordon on Monday night, so if you’re looking for a waiver wire receiver for Week 7, New England is a team to consider.
Julian Edelman (chest) is questionable, but he’s considered certain to play and should be their leading pass catcher, with his usual half dozen balls or more. James White will be a factor. But they’ll need some additional pass catching.
Phillip Dorsett (hamstring) is questionable, but he’ll likely be in the starting lineup. That was the expectation of some team observers earlier in the week. He was a limited participant in practice for the entire week. While there’s some risk involved, we’re figuring Dorsett is playing.
New England uses lots of formations with three wide receivers, and Jakobi Meyers (pictured) should be their third guy. He caught 4 passes for 54 yards last week, and Meyers caught 20 balls in the preseason. If you’re looking for a plug-in receivers, Meyers might be the best available option on the waiver wire. He’s almost as good as Dorsett and comes without any injury issues.
The Patriots also could use Gunner Olszewski some, but he’s questionable himself with a hamstring injury. Assuming Dorsett plays, the Olszewski should be the 4th-best wide receiver.
At tight end, the Patriots have ruled out Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse. They’ll instead go with Benjamin Watson and Eric Tomlinson as their primary players at that position. I don’t see either as particularly compelling. I suppose it will be neat at some point when Watson catches a touchdown, making for an 80-year-old connection between passer (Brady 42) and catcher (Watson 38).
Rex Burkhead (foot) is questionable. He was a limited participant in practice all week. That’s the same as Dorsett. But Burkhead has been listed that way in each of the last two weeks, then hasn’t played. I have no idea whether he’ll play, and I wouldn’t be comfortable using him. If he’s active, it would likely take away a few touches from James White and Sony Michel.
For the Jets, their offense will be missing three notable starters: tight end Chris Herndon, tackle Kelvin Beachum and guard Kelechi Osemele. Linebacker C.J. Mosley (groin) is questionable. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (hamstring) is questionable.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at NEW YORK JETS
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
OUT: WR Josh Gordon (knee, ankle), TE Ryan Izzo (concussion), TE Matt LaCosse (knee).
QUESTIONABLE RB Rex Burkhead (foot), S Patrick Chung (heel, chest), WR Phillip Dorsett (hamstring), WR Julian Edelman (chest), WR Gunner Olszewski (hamstring) Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday WR Josh Gordon (knee, ankle), TE Matt LaCosse (knee)
Friday WR Josh Gordon (knee, ankle), TE Ryan Izzo (concussion), TE Matt LaCosse (knee)
Saturday WR Josh Gordon (knee, ankle), TE Ryan Izzo (concussion), TE Matt LaCosse (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday RB Rex Burkhead (foot), S Patrick Chung (heel, chest), WR Phillip Dorsett (hamstring), WR Julian Edelman (chest)
Friday RB Rex Burkhead (foot), S Patrick Chung (heel, chest), WR Phillip Dorsett (hamstring), WR Julian Edelman (chest)
Saturday RB Rex Burkhead (foot), S Patrick Chung (heel, chest), WR Phillip Dorsett (hamstring), WR Julian Edelman (chest), WR Gunner Olszewski (hamstring)
NEW YORK JETS
OUT: LB Albert McClellan (concussion)
DOUBTFUL: DE Henry Anderson (shoulder), T Kelvin Beachum (ankle), RB Trenton Cannon (foot, ankle), TE Christopher Herndon (hamstring), LB Neville Hewitt (neck, knee), G Kelechi Osemele (shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Nate Hairston (knee), C Ryan Kalil (shoulder), G Alex Lewis (neck), DT Steve McLendon (hamstring), LB C.J. Mosley (groin), CB Darryl Roberts (ankle), WR Demaryius Thomas (hamstring), G Brian Winters (shoulder, knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday DE Henry Anderson (shoulder), T Kelvin Beachum (ankle), RB Trenton Cannon (foot, ankle), CB Nate Hairston (knee), TE Christopher Herndon (hamstring), LB Neville Hewitt (neck, knee), LB Albert McClellan (concussion), LB C.J. Mosley (groin), G Kelechi Osemele (shoulder), CB Darryl Roberts (ankle)
Friday DE Henry Anderson (shoulder), T Kelvin Beachum (ankle), RB Trenton Cannon (foot, ankle), TE Christopher Herndon (hamstring), LB Neville Hewitt (neck, knee), G Alex Lewis (neck), LB Albert McClellan (concussion), S Rontez Miles (not injury related), G Kelechi Osemele (shoulder)
Saturday DE Henry Anderson (shoulder), T Kelvin Beachum (ankle), RB Trenton Cannon (foot, ankle), TE Christopher Herndon (hamstring), LB Neville Hewitt (neck, knee), C Ryan Kalil (shoulder), LB Albert McClellan (concussion), S Rontez Miles (not injury related), G Kelechi Osemele (shoulder)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday LB Blake Cashman (ankle), C Ryan Kalil (shoulder), DT Steve McLendon (hamstring), WR Demaryius Thomas (hamstring), G Brian Winters (shoulder, knee)
Friday CB Nate Hairston (knee), C Ryan Kalil (shoulder), DT Steve McLendon (hamstring), LB C.J. Mosley (groin), CB Darryl Roberts (ankle), WR Demaryius Thomas (hamstring), G Brian Winters (shoulder, knee)
Saturday CB Nate Hairston (knee), G Alex Lewis (neck), DT Steve McLendon (hamstring), LB C.J. Mosley (groin), CB Darryl Roberts (ankle), WR Demaryius Thomas (hamstring), G Brian Winters (shoulder, knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday WR Josh Bellamy (shoulder), LB Brandon Copeland (thumb), S Blake Countess (hamstring), TE Ryan Griffin (ankle), LB Jordan Jenkins (ankle), CB Trumaine Johnson (thigh), DT Quinnen Williams (ankle)
Friday LB Tarell Basham (heel), WR Josh Bellamy (shoulder), LB Blake Cashman (ankle), LB Brandon Copeland (thumb), S Blake Countess (hamstring), TE Ryan Griffin (ankle), LB Jordan Jenkins (ankle), CB Trumaine Johnson (thigh), DT Quinnen Williams (ankle)
Saturday LB Tarell Basham (heel), WR Josh Bellamy (shoulder), LB Blake Cashman (ankle), LB Brandon Copeland (thumb), S Blake Countess (hamstring), TE Ryan Griffin (ankle), LB Jordan Jenkins (ankle), CB Trumaine Johnson (thigh), DT Quinnen Williams (ankle)