FOXBORO – There are 11 wide receivers listed on the Patriots training camp roster, and with 53-man roster locks Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan unavailable because of injury it has presented an opportunity to youngsters like DeAndre Carter and Chris Harper to get more reps in the early going.
Both have made the most of the opportunity given to them thus far, getting more reps than they normally would with Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo directing the offense.
Their paths to this point have been similar as neither was drafted despite finishing college with more than 2,000 receiving yards each, Harper at California and Carter at Sacramento State, where he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award that goes to the top offensive player in FCS.