Here’s how Demaryius Thomas could return to the Patriots
New England gained flexibility by releasing Thomas as it tried to trim its roster to 53 players.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Saturday that the Patriots had released veteran wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. The move came as a surprise to many, especially after Thomas hauled in seven receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns in his lone preseason game Thursday night.
But as the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian pointed out, Thomas could return as soon as Monday. The move simply gave the Patriots short-term roster flexibility as they tried to trim their roster to 53 players. Guregian speculated that New England may have wanted to get another player on the roster initially before ultimately re-signing Thomas.
It’s very likely the Patriots will use Demaryius Thomas’ roster spot to put someone on the returnable IR, then bring him back as soon as Monday. He doesn’t have to clear waivers. Reading the tea leaves, seems like what’s in the works
— Karen Guregian (@kguregian) August 31, 2019
“Because Thomas doesn’t have to clear waivers, and has expressed an interest in remaining in New England, the club can bring him back at any time, and there is an expectation that he is likely to return,” wrote ESPN’s Mike Reiss, who said it might be “procedural more than permanent.”
As Andrew Callahan of MassLive detailed, any player placed on injured reserve before the deadline is out for the year, but any player moved to IR afterward can return midseason, provided the team uses one of its two available designations to return on that player. According to Callahan, if wide receiver N’Keal Harry, tight end Matt LaCosse, defensive end/outside linebacker Shilique Calhoun, or safety Obi Melifonwu goes on IR, Thomas could rejoin the team to fill that spot.
Thomas, who ruptured his Achilles in December 2018, said he feels stronger than before. The 31-year-old deep threat has recorded over 9,000 career receiving yards and 62 touchdowns; he could complement Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon.
The Patriots are releasing WR Demaryius Thomas.
He’s still getting healthy but did this in the preseason. pic.twitter.com/ri2LNyuSrJ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 31, 2019
“I actually feel a lot better now,” Thomas told reporters. “Before the injury, I was a little smaller. But I’m a little heavier, a little stronger. The program we’ve been doing here has helped out a lot, so I feel great.”
The Patriots currently have six wide receivers on their roster: Edelman, Gordon, Phillip Dorsett, Harry, Jakobi Meyers, and — after an eventful day — Gunner Olszewski.
