Watson will miss the first four games of the season."

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You may have heard it by now Byron Cowart Buffalo Bills Jersey , but the New England Patriots’ tight end position saw some considerable turnover this offseason: Rob Gronkowski decided to end his Hall of Fame career at just 29, Dwayne Allen was released in a cost-cutting move, and Jacob Hollister was shipped to the Seattle Seahawks via trade. With last year’s opening day trio gone, the Patriots were forced to completely re-tool their depth chart at the position over the last few months.In order to do that, the world champions brought in a trio of veteran players in free agency. One of those additions, however, will not be able to help the team over the first quarter of the season: as he announced on Sunday, Benjamin Watson has been suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the 2019 season after violating the league’s policy against performance enhancing drugs.The suspension Infant Jacob Bailey Jersey , which brings back memories of similar penalties imposed against Rob Ninkovich in 2014 and Julian Edelman in 2018, is obviously not ideal for both the player and the club that re-signed him earlier this month. In the grand scheme of things, on the other hand, it is not much more than the latest bump in the road for the Patriots’ tight end position — the latest personnel challenge the club will have to overcome.Don’t be surprised if they do just that. After all, New England’s 2019 offense appears to be headed in a different direction altogether than its tight end-heavy predecessors: with a Hall of Fame talent like Gronkowski no longer available, the unit will likely place a bigger focus on getting the deeper positions on the team involved — from one of the most talented running back corps in the NFL to a wide receiver crew headed by a Super Bowl MVP (Edelman) and a first-round rookie (N’Keal Harry).The tight end position, meanwhile, may no longer be the focal point in the team’s offensive attack that it was for the past nine years. Instead Jacob Bailey Jersey Draft , the players at the position are expected to be used in accordance to the opponents’ weaknesses and how the Patriots plan to attack them in their game plan: Matt LaCosse and Austin Seferian-Jenkins will be the primary receiving threats at the position, with Ryan Izzo a candidate to fill the blocking duties alongside fullback/tight end hybrid James Develin.Watson would have fit in nicely in this usage scheme given his versatility and experience as both a blocker and a receiver. But even though he will miss the first four regular season games — the veteran already announced that he will not appeal the league’s decision — the 38-year-old will still play a prominent role when it comes to tutoring the younger players at the position. And, of course, once he returns in week five.All things considered, the suspension will therefore likely be little more than another blip on the Patriots’ offseason radar. Is it ideal? Obviously not, losing a player to a four-game ban never is. Is it a blow the team will be unable to overcome in light of all the recent turnover at the tight end position? Not even close — especially considering the remaining yet unproven talent as well as the overall development of New England’s personnel this offseason, and the way the direction in which the offense appears to be trending in because of it.New England Patriots links 9/07/18 - Cordarrelle Patterson up for new challenge with Pats TEAM TALKPaul Perillo scouts the matchups: Texans bring some challenges. /Big if true.Erik Scalavino shares the practice notes and locker-room buzz from Thursday at Gillette: Jacob Hollister improving in Year 2.Roster Transactions: Patriots announced they have signed WR Riley McCarron to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and added TE Stephen Anderson to the practice squad. 2018 second-round draft pick DB Duke Dawson was placed on injured reserveDon Banks makes his Week 1 picks. Winner: New England.Memorable Moments: Comeback win vs. Houston. (1.10 min. video)PFW TV: Patriot-Texans preview; Rob Gronkowski one-on-one. (21.59 min. video)Web Wars: Megan O’Brien and the voice of the Texans, Marc Vandermeer Jacob Bailey NFL Jersey , debate who has the edge in this week’s match up between the Patriots and the Texans. (2.04 min. video)LOCAL LINKSTom E. Curran gives us the skinny on the Houston Texans.Phil Perry warns about the challenge the Texans’ pesky “diamond front” brings. Evan Lazar focuses on how the Patriots secondary intend on slowing down WR DeAndre Hopkins.Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots-Texans season opener: Players to watch.Michael Hurley tells us what he’ll be watching for on Sunday vs. Texans: Brady’s protection.Ryan Hannable places plenty of pressure on Josh McDaniels for how the offense performs vs. the Texans defense.Kevin Duffy talks about Cordarrelle Patterson’s chance to be a big-play receiver for the Pats.Zack Cox finds that while Cordarrelle Patterson admits there’s “a lot to prove”, he says he’s “not nervous at all” about replacing former receivers.Mike Shalin (AP) Phillip Dorsett isn’t concerned about Patriots’ thin receiving corps.Ryan Hannable mentions how yesterday’s roster moves could impact things Sunday.Matthew Geagan gives us 10 fascinating storylines to follow in 2018: 1. The 41-year-old QB.Jared Talbot (FullPressCoverage) Tom Brady has the odds stacked against him.Jim Hackett gets used to Tom Brady going into “opposite” mode with the media and expects Brady’s on-field performance will continue to speak the loudest as it always has.Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) For Patriots defense, containing Deshaun Watson sounds miserable.Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Patriots name captains including two first-timers.Mike Reiss shares the football journey of Jeremy Hill.Kevin Duffy Patriots Notebook: Tom Brady elected captain for 17th season.Doug Kyed addresses his Patriots Mailbag: Honestly assessing depleted receiving corps.NESN points out Bill Belichick’s ‘softer side’ after he’s shown hanging with his dog ‘Nike’Steve Buckley suggests Patriots fans have lost some of their swagger because of all the situations going on at Gillette. /Insert several eye-roll emojis here.Suzy Welch (CNBC) At home with Bill Belichick and his new best friend: A puppy named Nike. (3.12 min. video)CBS Boston clarifies Bill Belichick’s and Linda Holliday’s dog is named for Nike, the god of victory, not the shoe company. /Insert more eye-roll emojis here.Derek McVay (BostonSportsOnTap) Predicting the New England Patriots record.Jim Lazar returns with snark arsenal fully loaded for 2018, and makes his Week 1 picks. Patriots 23-20.Andrew Callahan predicts every Patriots win and loss this season. Week 1: Loss to Texans.NATIONAL NEWSCharean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Another season, another catch controversy: Did Julio Jones catch it in bounds?Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) Eagles’ trick play – that helped spark win vs. Falcons – could be seen as nod to Tom Brady or troll job of Patriots.Conor Orr (SI) Eagles hold off Falcons in NFL season opener far from the thriller fans expected and needed.Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) Two years post-SB meltdown, Matt Ryan and the Falcons still impossible to trust.Greg Bishop and Robert Klemko (SI) The dynasty that never was: Inside the unraveling of the Seattle Seahawks.Mike Sando (ESPN) NFL trends that will define the 2018 season ... 14 of them.Clair McNear (The Ringer) Damn Jacob Bailey NFL Draft , Roger Goodell is a terrible writer: The NFL commissioner’s Thursday statement was a bit of a mess, but hey: Football. Is. Back.Curtis Crabtree (ProFootballTalk) Richard Sherman says to expect a lockout in 2021. /So does Marima.Staff (ESPN) Biggest injury questions for all 32 teams in Week 1.Mark Schofield (InsideThePylon) Locked On Patriots podcast: Houston Gameday edition. (26.14 min.)Staff (ESPN) Week 1 NFL score predictions: Viewers’ guide, best games, fantasy help, more.Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) PFT’s Week One picks. Florio: Texans 27-23; MDS: Patriots 27-23.Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) Week 1 game picks. Patriots 34-30.Staff (Bleacher Report) B/R’s expert consensus Week 1 NFL picks. Patriots 23-20.Nate Davis (USA Today) NFL Week 1 picks. 5 of 5 pick Patriots to win.VIEW FROM HOUSTONDrew Dougherty (HoustonTexans) First glance: Texans at Patriots.Staff (HoustonTexans) Enemy Intel: Patriots talk about Texans.John McClain (Houston Chronicle) Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins fired up for season.Brian T. Smith (Houston Chronicle) Texans coach Bill O’Brien’s best chance to win is now.Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle) J.J. Watt ready to let loose against Patriots, Tom Brady.Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle) Texans TE Ryan Griffin on Patriots: ‘Very sick of losing to these guys’.Cole Thompson (TexansWire) Texans QB Watson learning from mistakes for rematch against Patriots.Deepi Sidhu (HoustonTexans) Deshaun Watson looks forward to NE, not backJohn McClain (Houston Chronicle) Mailbag: How will Texans stop Patriots?Stephanie Stradley (Houston Chronicle) Patriots-Texans Q&A with Evan Lazar.Cole Thompson (TexansWire) 10 Bold predictions for the Texans season. 1. Houston starts season off with a win against New England Patriots.John McClain (Houston Chronicle) Week 1 predictions. Patriots 30-27.