During yesterday’s joint practice with the Tennessee Titans, Tom Brady targeted nine players during team drills. Of those nine guys, only four — all of them running backs — have caught a regular season or playoff pass from the New England Patriots’ quarterback this decade. The rest of the skill position players surrounding him was a combination of rookies or other inexperienced youngsters, and veteran free agency acquisitions.
The reason for this mix of talent is quickly found: in total, eight of the combined nineteen wide receivers and tight ends that the Patriots have under contract right now were out yesterday because of injury.