FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The competition to play tight end for the New England Patriots remains pretty tight.

With the release of Tyson DeVree on Sunday, four veterans — Benjamin Watson, David Thomas, Alex Smith and Chris Baker — are battling for what could be three slots on the final 53-man roster.

Patriot coach Bill Belichick says this may be the best group of tight ends he has coached since arriving in Foxborough a decade ago.

“I feel like we have good competition at that position and good depth,” Belichick said. “We are able to run some multiple tight end formations offensively, more so than we’ve had in previous camps. I feel like we’re a little bit ahead in the game … relative to where we’ve been.”

Watson, the incumbent starter in his sixth season, hasn’t been able to truly compete because he hasn’t been on the practice field.

Watson, who has a history of leg injuries, has sat out training camp with an injury the team has not disclosed. He has sat in on team meetings, seen the corrections coaches have made during film sessions and gotten involved in the mental aspects of the game.

But he acknowledges it’s not the same as being out there and on Monday described training camp as “very frustrating.”

“There’s always new things to learn,” Watson said. “There’s changes in the offense. So when you get back out there, you have to catch up. It does help that I’ve been here before.”

“I’d like to see every player on the field,” Belichick said recently about Watson. “That’s an easy one. We’d like to see them all out there. I don’t think it really matters what any of us did last year or any other year. We’re into a new season and that goes for everybody: Coaches, players, veteran players, rookie players, guys that were on this team last year, guys that were on another team last year. We’re starting a new process. We all need to get ourselves ready.”

Baker, an eight-year veteran who signed with the Pats as a free agent after being released by the New York Jets, separated himself a bit from the field by catching two touchdown passes from Tom Brady in the preseason opener against Philadelphia.

Thomas, in his fourth year, has shown flashes but found himself in the doghouse last year after being called for a crucial penalty during a late-game drive in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

“That’s in the past and this is this year,” Thomas said. “Bill tells us your role in the team is whatever you make it and that’s based on what you do this year and what your performance is this year. You put the past behind you.”

Thomas said all the tight ends have been trying to string plays together, string practices together, and be consistent.

“All the guys in the room are good players. I think every guy has proven themselves in the NFL so it’s definitely going to be a tough competition.”

“We all try to do the job when our number’s called and be as versatile as we can be,” Thomas said. “Whatever they have us trying to do, we try to do it with good technique and good fundamentals.”

Smith, in his fifth NFL season, was obtained in a trade from Tampa Bay for a fifth-round draft pick.

One factor that potentially could keep all four around is that the Patriots don’t have a true fullback on the roster. The team’s tight ends could play as lead blockers, besides being part of two- and three- tight end formations on short yardage plays.

“Having an extra tight end or two in the game to help solidify those edges and give the runners a little bit more space inside, that’s a good option to have down there, too,” Belichick said. “They factor into the formationing as well as some of the, I’d say, mismatch-type passes. It’s not about speed down there, it’s about quickness, hands and position.”

Copy the Story Link