Demaryius Thomas is not a lock to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster and may well begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. The Patriots started that process Sunday by placing the Pro Bowl wide receiver on their active/PUP list, which applies to players not healthy enough to begin participating in training camp. The Pats used the same designation for Sony Michel, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Michel will certainly be part of the 2019 Patriots and is recovering from offseason knee surgery. Thomas tore an Achilles in December, joining longtime receiver teammate Emmanuel Sanders in that regard. The latter, however, is further along in his recovery, having not started Broncos camp on the PUP list.
Here is the latest out of New England:
- Patriots third-round pick Yodny Cajuste underwent quadriceps surgery before the draft and landed on the defending Super Bowl champions’ reserve/NFI list, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. As is the case with the active/PUP list, players can come off this list at any point during camp. Cajuste figures to mix in as a swing option for the Patriots as a rookie.
- If Rob Gronkowski does follow through on a comeback, might the Patriots be wise to assure him blocking responsibilities will be limited? While the future Hall of Famer was a plus blocker for his position, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe suggests the Pats use Gronk as a hybrid-type player that does not have the same kind of in-line role he previously held. The 30-year-old icon has slimmed down this offseason, one that has reportedly not featured much in the way of strength work.
- Deatrich Wise and Nate Ebner will join Thomas and Michel on the Pats’ active/PUP list, Reiss tweets. A third-year defensive end, Wise has not missed a game in two seasons.
- Isaiah Wynn, however, will not appear on the Pats’ active/PUP list, Reiss adds (via Twitter). The 2018 first-round pick missed all of his rookie season due to a torn Achilles’ tendon. Suffering the injury before last season began, Wynn is expected to suit up when the Patriots convene for their 2019 camp and line up as New England’s starting left tackle.
- The Pats do not appear to have an open spot at quarterback, with Reiss noting Brian Hoyer will stick as Tom Brady‘s top backup and rookie Jarrett Stidham is likely assured of a roster spot as the team’s latest developmental QB project. This puts 2018 seventh-round pick Danny Etling on the verge of again falling short of a spot on the team’s active roster. But he may have an outside shot as a Taysom Hill-like role, per Reiss. While the Purdue and LSU alum never rushed for more than 200 yards in a season in college, Reiss points to his 86-yard touchdown run during 2018 preseason play as a sign this outside-the-box notion could work. The Patriots probably aren’t too eager to take Brady off the field, however.
I don’t believe you lose 40lbs or more in 2 months by simply changing your diet. Gronk was using something to maintain that bulk for 10+ years.
Thanks for the info expert.
I bet he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Have you payed attention to any big football players that retire they all slim down pretty fast. And isn’t front known for having a legendary appetite if he started eating less his body wouldn’t be adjusted to the fewer calories and he would slim quickly
I’ve seen plenty of heavy set people change their diet & not have the same results as pro players. What’s so special about them that they can add or lose so much weight?
There’s a lot that can come into play. For one, having money helps since you can use it to buy healthier food options/hire a personal chef. I imagine most athletes are on a calorie count that is higher than your normal person (in order to help maintain their playing size and just deal with the grind of the season). Once they retire, they can drop that calorie count to more normal levels. Work ethic also comes into play. Most athletes have spent countless hours working on perfecting their skills, its not out of the question to think they’ll be super committed to losing weight when they try to slim down.
Of course there are lots of variables. But I do find it funny that Gronk drops weight that fast & Brady is faster now at 41; after 16 years of being beat up & surgeries, then he was at 22.
I’m 46 & just don’t see those anomalies from people in my neighborhood.
There are also legal supplements.
Maybe I should buy a GNC franchise then.
I suppose Bert, Ernie, Big Bird and Elmo have different anomalies.
I think one could consider the best quarterback and tight end of all time as anomalies
Oh boy, here we go
well, the whole team has show signs of roid rage, so yeah…
Maybe Mrs. Manning stopped sending mail to Gronkowski?