The New England Patriots have activated tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.
 The New England Patriots have activated tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. (FILE:USPresswire) |
Shiancoe, who was placed on injured reserve with designation to return on Sept. 5, had less than a week to be placed on the 53-man roster or he would be lost for the season.
The Patriots had an open roster spot after running back Brandon Bolden was suspended four games on Friday for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy.
Analysis:
The addition of Shiancoe to the Patriots roster means the team now has five tight ends; Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells, Michael Hoomanawanui & now, Shiancoe.
New England loves the versatility of these players and having them on the field creates a tough match-up for any defense. Whether these players are by the offensive line, split out wide, or even in the fullback position, it gives the Pats a lot of options.
When Bolden returns, I would expect the team to release one of the tight ends, but they now have four weeks to make that decision. Shiancoe adds a veteran presence with experience blocking and catching. While I don't think he'll be targeted too often, he should add a lot of value and more importantly, insurance moving forward with the season.
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