New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots have been flirting with disaster, and they’ve been doing it for nearly two years…
Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper have essentially been the only tight ends on the active roster, serving as the two constants at the position while the organization cycled through numerous developmental options on the practice squad — like CJ Dippre, Jaheim Bell, Jack Westover, Mitchell Wilcox, Marshall Lang and Gee Scott Jr.
Henry and Hooper have been tremendous since joining forces, combining for 158 receptions, 1,746 yards and 10 touchdowns over the course of the last two seasons — but that production isn’t something that can be expected to continue…
Henry turns 31 on Dec. 7 and Hooper already turned 31 on Oct. 29.
The Patriots can’t continue to rely on both of them to remain healthy and productive, and have already seen the latter hit the shelf with a concussion that left them extremely thin at the position — prompting a move that might just bail them out for their poor planning.
Dippre was signed to the active roster from the practice squad on Monday.
Dippre was an undrafted free agent addition like many of the other names we mentioned earlier, but unlike that crop, has done enough to earn an active roster spot in his rookie season. Jack Westover found his way to the active roster while making the switch to fullback, so just ignore that one.
It’s unlikely that he’ll become some incredibly reliable contributor, but he does bring a few decent traits to the table…
Henry will remain the primary option in the passing game. Hooper will go back to contributing when healthy. Dippre, however, provides an element in the running game that the club has looked all over for — having asked for an extra boost from the likes of Westover, offensive lineman Ben Brown and defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga.
Dippre can do that, while also being a sufficient enough athlete to contribute in the passing game while the organization is without one of the options it has relied upon for the last two seasons.
I’ve been telling them to start preparing for the future during that entire stretch, and although they ignored me, we’ll count this as a start — though the complete rehaul of that position group should come sooner rather than later.
