Patriots news & notes: Thornton timetable unclear; Keene another wasted pick
New England Patriots will have to wait a while to see if second-round pick Tyquan Thornton is the real deal.
As reported by NFL Network’s Mike Giardi on Sunday, the rookie wide receiver will miss up to eight weeks after suffering a fractured clavicle in Friday’s preseason victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Talk about bad luck and bad timing, Thornton was really showing flashes of being a viable weapon in his rookie season with the Patriots. Thornton had 1 catch for 13 yards before departing the game with what was called a collarbone injury at the time. If surgery is needed, he could miss up to eight weeks, although the healing process does differ for each individual player.
New England Patriots may not need to rush Tyquan Thornton back
Although he should be available sometime in the early part of the 2022 NFL season, one never knows when it comes to Bill Belichick and how he handles his rookies. With other wide receivers like Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Tre Nixon making a push for a roster spot, Thornton could find himself fighting for snaps even if he returns.
Another factor is the rejuvenation of Nelson Agholor. The veteran wide receiver has been establishing chemistry with Mac Jones and if he returns to the receiver he was during his one-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, there will be no rush to get Tyquan Thornton back on the field.
Roster moves: New England Patriots cut former third-round pick Dalton Keene
Let’s hope Thornton’s situation is not the start of an injury trend that led to Dalton Keene not seeing much of the field since being drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
On Sunday, the 23-year-old tight end was released by the team which both not a surprise and a disappointment. After not seeing the field in 2021, there was hope Keene would have the opportunity to show what kind of impact he could have on the field, but that opportunity never came and won’t come in a New England Patriots uniform.
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As one of those players on the roster bubble, it was a long shot for Keene who also had to compete with Devin Asiasi, Matt Sokol and recently signed rookie tight end Jalen Wydermyer for that third tight end spot behind Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.
There is also the emergence of Lil’Jordan Humphrey who is more of a wide receiver/tight end hybrid player who could play himself into that role.
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The disappointment in the cut is that Keene was a third-round pick who had some potential to be a tight end/full back type player who could make plays in the open field. Again, injuries prevented him from having much of a chance and unfortunately he will go down as yet another Bill Belichick wasted draft pick.