New England Patriots fans really want to know which two players will be released when quarterback Tom Brady and defensive end Rob Ninkovich’s four-game suspensions end next week.
How do I know this? Because I write a mailbag column every week, and each time I’ve solicited questions since roster cuts, someone inevitably asks which players will be released when Brady and Ninkovich are back. Although it’s kind of a morbid topic, we’ve now reached the point where we can make educated guesses on the topic.
It’s worth noting this could change based on injury or performance in the Patriots’ Week 4 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. It’s also worth noting the Patriots likely will receive a roster exemption for Brady and Ninkovich, meaning the Patriots won’t need to move players off the roster until next Saturday.
Here are the candidates.
LB Elandon Roberts
Roberts was inactive in Week 1 when Dont’a Hightower was active. Roberts was active in Week 3 when Hightower was inactive but didn’t play a single snap on defense or special teams.
He played just seven total snaps — six on defense and one on special teams — in his lone game action in Week 2. Rob Ninkovich can offer linebacker depth, and Hightower appears close to returning. Without special teams value, Roberts doesn’t have the normal requisite versatility to stick as an end-of-the-roster player. The Patriots likely could slip him to the practice squad through waivers.
TE AJ Derby
Derby, like Roberts, could likely clear waivers and be slipped to the practice squad if released. Derby only was active in Week 1, when he went untargeted and was flagged for a false start.
The Patriots’ need for an extra tight end on the active roster lessens as Rob Gronkowski gets healthier.
OT LaAdrian Waddle
Waddle hasn’t been active since Week 1, when starting left tackle Nate Solder was inactive. Cameron Fleming has passed Waddle on the depth chart.
Waddle is not practice-squad eligible, the Patriots appear to like him enough to keep him as the third tackle.
RB D.J. Foster
Foster only was active in Week 2, when he served as a kick returner and backup third-down back. While Foster has practice squad eligibility, it’s probably not worth exposing him to waivers until Dion Lewis returns off the PUP list.
QB Jacoby Brissett
Wouldn’t it be awful if Brissett’s thumb injury somehow got worse between now and next Saturday, and the Patriots had to place their third-string rookie quarterback on injured reserve to make room for Brady? *Wink wink, nudge nudge*
DT John Hughes
It seems unlikely the Patriots would give up on Hughes after one week, but crazier things have happened in New England. Hughes was the last player added to the Patriots’ 53-man roster.
CB Eric Rowe
Wouldn’t it be awful if Rowe’s ankle injury somehow got worse between now and next Saturday, and the Patriots had to place their sixth cornerback on injured reserve, lessening the chances they give up a third-round pick, rather than a fourth-rounder, to the Philadelphia based on play time?
A note on Brissett and Rowe: The Patriots can bring a player off the injured reserve list after eight weeks. They currently have no candidates to bring off the list.
Thumbnail photo via Noah K. Murray/USA TODAY Sports Images
