Patriots activate WR N’Keal Harry off IR, elevate DB Myles Bryant, LB Jahlani Tavai from practice squad

The Patriots activated wide receiver N’Keal Harry off injured reserve Saturday and elevated defensive back Myles Bryant and linebacker Jahlani Tavai off the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Bucs.

Harry is expected to play against Tampa Bay. He missed the last month and a half with a shoulder injury he suffered in the Pats’ second preseason game at Philadelphia in mid-August. Harry should replace Gunner Olszewski as the team’s No. 4 wide receiver.

Through three weeks, Olszewski has taken just 32 offensive snaps and seen zero targets. Last season, Harry caught 33 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound has disappointed since being selected in the first round of the 2019 draft, though Patriots coach Bill Belichick said during this summer he believes Harry will make a “big contribution” to the team.

Harry fills the open roster spot created by James White’s placement on injured reserve Friday.

Tavai has been elevated for the second straight week. He saw eight snaps in his season debut last week against New Orleans. Bryant has yet to see any game action this year. As a rookie, he played in nine games, making a dozen tackles and grabbing one interception.

Bryant’s promotion could indicate the Pats will combat Tom Brady’s league-leading passing attack with a game plan that floods the field with defensive backs. He might also replace starting safety Kyle Dugger, who was added to the injury report Thursday with a new hamstring injury. Dugger is officially questionable, as are linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Kyle Van Noy.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2Ydt2Eg