The New England Patriots had decided to release tight end Benjamin Watson prior to their Week 5 win against the Washington Redskins. Fortunately, it appears he is already slated to make his return.
According to ESPN's Field Yates, the Patriots are expected to re-sign Watson:
The Patriots are expected to re-sign veteran TE Benjamin Watson, per source. He was released last week, but should be back in the fold to help a position that could use the depth.
Watson came out of retirement to sign with New England this offseason. He had served a four-game suspension to start the 2019 NFL season and was slated to make his debut in Week 5 before he was ultimately released.
The Patriots' decision to bring Watson back was undoubtedly due to necessity. The offense suffered a few more key injuries in Week 6 during their victory over the New York Giants with tight end Matt LaCosse and fullback Jakob Johnson. His addition would certainly help to shore up some much-needed depth up front, along with providing another potential option in the passing game for quarterback Tom Brady to work with.
It is no secret that New England is currently lacking the firepower Brady has become accustomed to having throughout his career. This was especially evident when he threw for zero touchdowns and an interception versus New York. Watson's experience and prowess as a receiver could provide some stability underneath.
The veteran could spent offseason and training camp with the Patriots and will seemingly have an opportunity to establish himself as a safety net for Brady.