As if the Patriots-Colts rivalry needed any more juice, Reggie Wayne reportedly is set to sign with New England.
Wayne and the Patriots reportedly reached an agreement on a one-year contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday, via a league source. The longtime Colt and six-time Pro Bowl receiver reportedly was in Foxboro for a physical over the weekend.
Wayne, who’s 36, caught 64 passes for 779 yards and two touchdowns last season as he recovered from a torn ACL, which he suffered in 2013. He was a free agent after his three-year contract, which he signed in 2012, ran out after the season.
Wayne joins a Patriots receiving corps that’s depleted by injuries. Brandon LaFell remains on the physically unable to perform list, and Julian Edelman, Aaron Dobson and Brian Tyms have been out of practice with various ailments. Brandon Gibson also suffered a knee injury Saturday night in the Patriots’ preseason win over the New Orleans Saints.
The injuries left Danny Amendola, Josh Boyce, Zach D’Orazio, Chris Harper, Jonathan Krause and Matthew Slater as the Patriots’ lone healthy wideouts.
Since Wayne is a vested veteran, his entire contract will be guaranteed if he’s on the Patriots’ Week 1 roster.
Wayne is the NFL’s active leader in career receptions (1,070) and receiving yards (14,345), and he has 82 touchdowns and eight 1,000-yard campaigns in his 14 seasons, all with the Colts, who drafted him 30th overall in 2001. Wayne also has 79 catches for 1,046 yards and five TDs in 16 career games against the Patriots, including the playoffs, with a 5-11 overall record.
If LaFell starts the season on the PUP list, Wayne could serve as the Patriots’ No. 2/3 receiver behind Edelman. Once LaFell returns, Wayne and Amendola likely would share the No. 3 role.
Tyms suffered an injury last week and likely will be placed on injured reserve, a source told NESN.com. Harper and Gibson each were having a strong summer for the Patriots, but their chances of making the roster decreases with Wayne’s signing.
Thumbnail photo via Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports Images
