One of the great questions hanging over the Patriots as the team careens toward cut-down day, when the roster must be trimmed to 53 players, is what will happen with the team’s wide-receiver room? You know the names and the statuses: Free-agent signees Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins are in, as are rookies Kyle Williams and Efton Chism, along with top returner Pop Douglas.
Kayshon Boutte is likely the sixth guy, which means there will either be a surprise seventh receiver kept on the roster, or the Patriots will have to cut last year’s two draftees, injured second-rounder Ja’Lynn Polk and fourth-rounder Javon Baker, as well as veteran Kendrick Bourne (who’d be a sensible trade candidate).
Baker is an especially interesting case, because though he struggled as a receiver in the team’s preseason games, he showed a real knack in a new role as a special-teams gunner. But will that be enough to keep him on the 53-man and persuade the Patriots to carry seven receivers?
Javon Baker Could Be the Special Teams Gunner
Coach Mike Vrabel was asked directly about Baker on Friday, and whether he did enough to show he belongs on the team. It’s possible, of course, that Baker could be cut and placed on the practice squad.
“I think you look at the entire body of work, and I think you try to evaluate everything, not just the special teams, but what else can they do?” Vrabel said. “And in Javon’s case, he’s a wide receiver, and I think the more that he does the special teams, I think the better that he’s gotten, and he’ll understand how he can use his play strength, his speed, some of the receiving tools and fundamentals as a gunner, potentially.
“You know, we tried to get him some reps at corner yesterday on a punt return. He’s played on the kickoff for us. And you know, those are new, especially for a young player who’s played receiver most of his life. So, I think that the more that he’s done it, the more comfortable that he’s gotten and we’ll continue to evaluate him.”
Patriots’ Kendrick Bourne Out?
Also of note is that Vrabel addressed the situation with Bourne, who caught some bad luck by suffering what has only been described as a leg injury at the beginning of the month. Bourne has history with returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, which might work in his favor, but he essentially missed all of camp amid a heated roster battle.
Vrabel was asked about both Bourne and Jahlani Tavai, who has also had injury issues this summer.
“I think you’re always trying to gather information on players and how they fit in the vision that you have for the football team. They’ve missed some time, that’s no secret, but I think that they both worked extremely hard to stay engaged and to understand what it is that we’re doing,” Vrabel said.
“… That’s all we would ask of any player, is that they’re ready to go mentally when they get back, and I know that both of those players will be. So, they’re working hard to get back and join us when they can.”
Vrabel Addresses Javon Baker’s Patriots 53-Man Roster Chances