New England Patriots Rumors: All eyes on N’Keal Harry
New England Patriots 2019 first-round pick N’Keal Harry has been activated off injured reserve and set to make his debut with the defending Super Bowl champs.
With the turnover the New England Patriots have already gone through at the wide receiver position, it would be quite Bill Belichick if the answer was sitting on the sidelines all along.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapopport, the team has decided to activate rookie wide receiver N’Keal Harry off Injured Reserve.
"“More offense for the #Patriots: They are activating rookie WR N’Keal Harry off Injured Reserve, source said. The first-rounder fits into a remade receiver group,” Rapopport tweeted Saturday."
No, Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon are no longer walking through that door, but 2019 first-round pick is and his return gives fans something to be excited about and gives Tom Brady another big, talented receiver to work with in that Patriots’ offense.
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Perhaps the possibility of Harry being activated to the active roster from IR was a reason the team decided to move on from Josh Gordon. Similar in size, he gives the offense the same type of target and athletic ability.
More importantly, the activation means the team believes their first-round pick can help and is fully healthy from the hamstring injury that sidelined him the first eight weeks of the season.
Tom Brady on N’Keal Harry
Though his time on the field during preseason was limited, his catch range did show what kind of window Tom Brady will have to throw to with his presence. But talent alone won’t get N’Keal Harry on the field as Brady expressed when asked about the rookie being inserted back into the offense.
"“Yeah, he’s missed a lot of football – missed a lot of training camp, missed eight regular season games,” Brady said Saturday, via Patriots.com. “So, you know, he’s just got to try to work at it every day, and it’s going to be up to him to put the effort in and to – you know, everyone’s there to help him, but you’ve got to go out there and you’ve got to do it and earn it, and earn the trust of your teammates and coaches and stuff. So, it’s good to have him out there.”"
That trust has been something fellow rookies Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski have been trying to earn all season long. Now, with N’Keal Harry back in the mix, one of those players will have to be inactive in order for the Arizona State standout to make his debut.
Will it come Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens?
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Well, only Bill Belichick knows that. But the New England Patriots rookie is primed, anxious and ready for whenever his opportunity comes.
Hopefully, that does come Sunday night or else Patriots fans will have to wait till after the Bye week to see the talented receiver in a Patriots uniform. It looks like all eyes will be on N’Keal Harry up until game time Sunday night.