The Patriots’ receiving room will be shorthanded to begin the season. Tyquan Thornton is headed to injured reserve, reports ESPN’S Jeremy Fowler. 
As a result of the move, Thornton will be sidelined for at least the first four games of the campaign. The 2022 second-rounder is dealing with a shoulder injury, and the timing of the ailment made him a logical candidate to be given the IR designation after the team’s initial 53-man roster was set.
Free agent signing JuJu Smith-Schuster is set to headline New England’s WR room this season, one which also features returnees DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne. The latter struggled in his second Patriots campaign last season, but outside trade interest was shut down. The team’s top three on the receiver depth chart will thus be intact to start the year, one in which signficant improvement in the passing game is expected.
Thornton has likewise been tapped for a step forward in his second NFL season. The Baylor product recorded 247 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 22 receptions as a rookie. With a veteran trio ahead of him in the pecking order, he may not be able replicate the 66% snap share he logged last year upon return, but playing time should be available given the lack of star power in New England’s pass-catching corps.
When healthy, Thornton will be able to provide the Patriots with a deep threat on offense, something which would go a long way in helping the unit become more efficient and earn him a larger role moving forward. The 23-year-old was limited to 13 games last season, however, so missed time once again will add to the urgency he faces to establish himself as a dependable contributor when he is cleared to return.
If Thornton is down for considerable time, and it has just become apparent that Mike Evans will not get a new contract before the deadline, perhaps the Pats could send them Thornton, and Evans could become the equivalent to Jones of Kelsey to Mahomes. Or Edelman to Brady. He’s young enough to make an investment for the near future.