New England Patriots: Grading the 5 bold player predictions of Week 1
Dalton Keene spends Week 1 on the inactive list
While the ground attack was fun to watch, the New England Patriots still didn’t get much production out of the tight end position as far as reception yardage.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Patriots on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
Third-year tight end Ryan Izzo did have a nice catch for 25 yards, but the tight end predicted to have a couple big plays in this game was 2020 third-round pick Dalton Keene.
Well, in classic Bill Belichick fashion, the rookie didn’t even see the field as he was on the inactive list for the game. With fellow rookie tight end Devin Asiasi also seeing limited snaps, it appears it may be a few games before Patriots fans really see what they have in the two young pass-catching tight ends.
Added to the injury report the Thursday prior to the game with a neck injury, Keene’s inactivity was probably more cautionary than an indication of how the team feels he can produce within the offense.
Given the power running game approach, the New England Patriots will likely have the three tight ends active for most games, especially with the versatility of Dalton Keene and his ability to play the fullback position.
In a solid 21-11 victory, one of the only downsides was not seeing the young tight end play.
Grade: N/A