Tom Brady is doing everything he can with the talent he has on the field. However, the truth is the New England Patriots are struggling on the offensive side of the ball due to a lack of talent at the wide receiver position. The issue became very apparent on Thursday night as Danny Amendola was not on the field leaving the team without their biggest target. As the wide receiver could miss significant time, the Patriots might have to start looking elsewhere.
First thing is first, Amendola could miss anywhere from two to six weeks with a groin injury. The receiver was brought in to replace Wes Welker, but so far Patriots fans have only gotten a brief taste of his talents. In his absence, Aaron Dobson and Julian Edelman were left to fill in. Against the Jets on Thursday night, both receivers struggled in the spotlight, running wrong routes and clearly lacking chemistry with Brady.
"I think everybody was (ticked off), you know, when you don't execute the way that you're capable," Brady said, via MassLive.com. "We just have to keep fighting. I think I have to do a better job with my body language. I definitely can improve that. I wouldn't say it's a real strong point of mine right now. We'll just try to keep doing better. That's what we've got to do."
So what do the Patriots do if Amendola is out for four or six weeks? The first is hope that Rob Gronkowski comes back sooner rather than later. CBSSports.com reports the right end could be back by Week 4 if New England is lucky. The team does not want to rush him back, but they need his talent on the field.
There is also the option of free agency. The team already reached out to Brandon Lloyd, but their offer was rejected. Austin Collie could be a decent addition. He had a strong preseason with the San Francisco 49ers, but was eventually released. He has a history of injuries, but would sign a minimum contract.
Mohamed Massaquoi is on the market as well. Several teams have shown interest in the former Cleveland Browns receiver. Most recently, the Atlanta Falcons brought him in for a try out as a possible replacement for Roddy White. While Massaquoi has underwhelmed since entering the NFL, pairing with Brady could be just what he needs.
The Patriots could easily opt to stick with the talent they have if Amendola looks to be on the shorter end of the 2-6 weeks diagnoses. Going one more week without top talent in receivers is not the worst thing when Brady is the quarterback.
