Two weeks after suffering what appeared to be a gruesome knee injury, Josh Gordon has landed on IR. When he wasn’t place on IR after the TNF match-up with the Giants when the injury occurred, it appeared as if the Patriots lucked out with the injury being less severe than expected. Now, Gordon’s tenure with New England will be over, as the team announced they’ll waive him when he’s healthy.
Yesterday, the Patriots traded a second-round pick to the Falcons for Mohamed Sanu. At the time, the trade was viewed as an overpayment for a guy who’d likely be the third WR when Gordon returned. Now, it may be more clear why Bill Belichick was willing to part with the pick. Sanu has spent the last 3.5 seasons in Atlanta, averaging 64 receptions for 730 yards and 4 touchdowns in his three full seasons. He’s a smart player from Belichick’s favorite collegiate system (Rutgers), but it may be tougher for him to pick up the playbook mid-season.
With Sanu the WR depth chart looks like this:
- Edelman
- Sanu
- Dorsett
- Myers
- Olszewski
N’Keal Harry was designated as one of the two players allowed to return from IR, so he should be back soon. However, he’s not available until Week 9 at the earliest. So, this is what they’re rolling in with against the Browns – two UDFA rookies, a former first-round bust, the newly acquired Sanu, and an injured Julian Edelman. This doesn’t sound to promising against a defense that, while they’ve underperformed this year, is loaded with talent.
I don’t think another significant trade is coming. And, no, they will not bring Antonio Brown back. So, this is it. Ben Watson will be more involved. James White will be more involved. When Isaiah Wynn is likely activated from IR, the run game with Sony Michel might look more promising. But, overall, this is what the 2019 New England Patriots will look like for the remainder of the season. They need to stay healthy on offense for the rest of the year. That defense can only carry so much.
Josh Gordon’s time in New England will be looked at fondly by most fans. Many will wonder “what could’ve been” just like his time spent with the Browns. His first season with the Patriots ended with another suspension. Honestly, it was a shock when he was reinstated prior to this year. This season, it still never looked completely fluid with him on the field. You were just waiting for him to hit another gear, break a big play, and do it every few weeks, but it never really happened. While he was in New England, he still bought into the team, and it seemed like he was part of the family in the locker room. It’s sad to see it end this way.