Fansided

5 best training camp battles for Patriots in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JUNE 5: New England Patriots' Chase Winovich (52) adjusts his helmet as he heads into Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on June 5, 2019. (Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - JUNE 5: New England Patriots' Chase Winovich (52) adjusts his helmet as he heads into Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on June 5, 2019. (Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Phillip Dorsett #13 of the New England Patriots catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Phillip Dorsett #13 of the New England Patriots catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

3. Wide receiver 2

Phillip Dorsett vs. N’Keal Harry vs. Dontrelle Inman vs. Braxton Berrios

New England Patriots’ wide receiver Julian Edelman had quite the 2018 campaign. After missing all of the previous season with a knee injury, he was suspended for the first four games this past year for violation of the league’s PED policy. But he would still finish second on the team with 74 receptions, good for 850 yards and six scores in 12 games. And the 10-year pro would once again enjoy quite the postseason, capping it off with 10 catches for 141 yards on the way to being named Super Bowl LIII MVP in his club’s 13-3 win over the Rams.

So who will be the team’s second wideout for the most part? Quarterback Tom Brady and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have some new toys to play with in one-time Denver Broncos’ first-round draft choice Demaryius Thomas (who ended ’18 with the Houston Texans and was released in February) is currently on the club’s physically-unable-to-perform list. That’s hardly a surprise considering he suffered an Achilles’ injury last December.

Another newcomer is wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, who’s bounced around the league a bit and settled late in 2018 with the Indianapolis Colts. There’s rookie N’Keal Harry (Arizona State), the last pick in the first round of April’s draft. He’s in the mix with Braxton Berrios (who spent his rookie season on IR), veteran Phillip Dorsett and more. And does Josh Gordon still have a future in Foxborough?

While Harry is an intriguing prospect, the wild card here could be Inman. In 58 regular-season outings with the Chargers, Bears and Colts, he’s totaled 158 for 2,101 yards and 11 scores and was solid in Indianapolis’ two postseason games a year ago.

Next: No. 2

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