Patriots Add Tight End Depth by Signing Former Packer Lance Kendricks
By Sean Facey
Filling the hole left behind at the tight end position by Rob Gronkowski will be no easy task, but the Patriots are doing their best to try.
New England signed former Green Bay Packer Lance Kendricks in yet another attempt to bolster their tight end depth ahead of the 2019 NFL season.
The #Patriots are adding some tight end help before training camp, signing TE Lance Kendricks, source said. He had 19 catches for the #Packers last year and will assist in filling the Rob Gronkowski void.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 24, 2019
The 31-year-old Kendricks is an eight-year NFL veteran. The former second-round draft pick has played in 125 games in his career, pulling in 241 receptions for 2,505 yards and 19 touchdowns.
While with the Packers in 2018, he managed 19 catches on 25 targets for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Though it would be unreasonable to think he could match the production of a superstar like Gronk, it's more than likely that he'll receive the bulk of the work at tight end during the first few weeks of the season as Ben Watson serves out a four-game suspension.
Kendricks has missed just 2 games in his 8 year career, and none since 2015
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) July 24, 2019
With 125 NFL games (91 starts) under his belt, he could add some much needed stabilization and experience to the #Patriots tight end group, especially early in the year while Ben Watson is suspended https://t.co/2ztGVGdvjL
The Patriots will also turn to the likes of Matt LaCosse and perhaps even seventh-round pick Ryan Izzo as they navigate their first full season without Gronkowski since 2009.
How quarterback Tom Brady plays now that he doesn't have one of his top red zone targets makes for an intriguing plotline this year. There's no doubt that the Patriots are ready to try whatever is necessary to keep the offense running smoothly, but things will surely feel different around Foxborough.