By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
As part of a series of roster moves on Saturday, the Patriots swapped out one wide receiver for another on the main roster. They officially signed Donte Moncrief to the 53-man roster off the practice squad, and waived trade deadline addition Isaiah Ford.
Moncrief has played five offensive snaps and 21 on special teams in two games with the Patriots, and has caught one of two targets for 15 yards. Ford, meanwhile, was active for one game after coming over from the Miami Dolphins but didn’t play any snaps. The Patriots acquired Ford from the Dolphins at the trade deadline for a conditional 2022 sixth-round pick.
At tight end, it’s less of a shakeup and more like potential reinforcements. The Patriots activated rookie Dalton Keene off injured reserve, giving him a chance to return to the active roster on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Keene made one catch for eight yards in his NFL debut in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Pats activated Keene early in their 21-day window to bring him off IR, which is a good sign for his chances to play in Los Angeles.
Dalton Keene running with the football at Patriots Training Camp. Photo courtesy of the New England Patriots.
In addition, the Patriots used a standard practice squad elevation on tight end Rashod Berry. They will have the option of reverting Berry back to the practice squad without having to waive him. Berry played defensive end at Ohio State, but has been converting to tight end in his transition to the NFL.
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Keene has potential to contribute in a variety of ways on offense, but will be hard-pressed to do so in his rookie season after multiple injuries have slowed his development on the field. Moncrief has clearly caught on much better and quicker than Ford ever did, and appears to be trending toward seeing more snaps as a veteran on the active roster.
The Patriots also made a transaction on defense, signing defensive tackle Akeem Spence to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff or send him a nasty email at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
