The New England Patriots brought 38-year-old tight end Benjamin Watson out of retirement, but when it was time to put him on the active roster, they felt they didn't need him.
On Monday, the Patriots released Watson. The veteran tight end was serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. He was able to rejoin the squad for Week 5, but New England didn't do so. Then, on the day after the Week 5 game against the Washington Redskins, they didn't activate him in time. In turn, making him a free agent.
“[We] like Ben, just, we don’t have a roster spot for him right now,” said coach Bill Belichick during a press conference on Tuesday, via Henry McKenna of Patriots Wire. “So, maybe that’ll change, but for the moment, that’s where it is.”
Without Watson in the mix, the Patriots are going to roll with the younger options, Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo. Belichick is high on the two, due to their potential.
“They’re both younger players that are developing and we feel like have some upside, done a decent job for us,” Belichick said, per McKenna. “Certainly have a ways to go, but have had enough production that we want to keep working with them.”
Through five games, LaCosse has three receptions for 55 yards. Izzo: four receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. New England isn't getting the same production out of their tight ends since the retirement of Rob Gronkowski. Perhaps down the line, one of the two can provide consistency and reliability for Tom Brady.
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