It’s fair to say that the New England Patriots’ 2013 acquisitions at wide receiver haven’t panned out as hoped.
Aaron Dobson, a 2013 second-round draft pick, is being placed on injured reserve after hurting his hamstring Sunday in the Patriots’ 26-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers, a source told the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe. Dobson ends his sophomore season with just three catches on four targets for 38 yards.
Dobson was embroiled in a roster battle at wide receiver this summer with Brandon LaFell and fellow second-year pros Kenbrell Thompkins and Josh Boyce. LaFell went on to earn the starting role and has caught 53 passes for 712 yards and seven touchdowns — all career highs — after being acquired as a free agent this offseason.
Thompkins, an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati last season, was waived by the Patriots in October and claimed by the Oakland Raiders. Boyce, a 2013 fourth-round pick, was waived in August and has spent all season on the Patriots’ practice squad.
Dobson still was recovering from offseason foot surgery during the summer and only came off the PUP list in early August, which appeared to slow his progress from his rookie season, when he caught 37 passes for 519 yards with four touchdowns. Dobson appeared in just four games this season after being passed on the depth chart by fellow wideout Bryan Tyms.
The Patriots haven’t officially moved Dobson to injured reserve, and they’ll be able to add a player to their 53-man roster when they make the transaction. The Patriots have just over two weeks to activate defensive tackle Sealver Siliga from short-term injured reserve.
