Do Fletcher and Chris Jones make the roster?

What's the thinking here with these two coming off PUP sometime in the near future? D line is loaded but Jones is a pretty solid player and still very young. Fletcher has filled in nicely at times at linebacker (24-0 Denver game) and can play special teams.

These things have a way of working out. Circumstances usually end up dictating the scenarios.

Tough call. I would think the Pats will take the maxim time on them. But I agree with Dragda. The overriding theme is that injuries will probably be the reason why one of them makes it onto the active roster. Right now they are depth.

PUP= PS Squad for veterans.

I would certainly so "no" to Jones. We have 5 solid DT's without Jones or Thornton. 5 DT's are plenty, especially give that Grissom and Chandler Jones sometimes takes reps inside. Besides, Chris Jones can stay on IR and be given a chance agains next year.

Fletcher is a more complicated matter. How healthy is Hightower? Mayo doesn't look good. Bostic still doesn't have one rep as a linebacker. So, with regard to Fletcher, I would think that we might wait a couple of weeks, and ultimately decide based on the the health of everyone else. To me, Fletcher would be an OK 5th LB, who plays ST's, but Bostic may have already replaced him.

Jones: I'm thinking no, but wouldn't at all be surprised if he stuck around and even knocked someone like Branch or Siliga off the roster (I hope not Siliga, I think he's our best DT). Maybe it was just out of necessity, but Jones has made a lot of starts over the last two years and seemingly been right with Siliga and Branch on the depth chart. He could certainly be the 6th DT over Thornton, although I don't see the point of a 6th DT and Thornton probably has more potential.

Fletcher: I think so. We might see Bostic's stay come to an abrupt end, or not--we don't exactly have an abundance of linebackers. Freeny looking decent is only a recent development, so I'd certainly like to see more depth and Fletcher was pretty good last time he was here.

Jones is not better than Branch, Seal, Brown or Easy. In his first game, I thought Hicks moved some people around. He had a nice shed n stuff of Gore. Jury is still out but he is a big boy out there.

I have no idea about the LBs. Fletch is more of an edge guy and not much in coverage.

Jones will go to IR I think

I kind of forgot either of these guys existed. Maybe Fletcher sticks around but I doubt Jones is on the roster, I suppose they could put him on IR

I like Chris Jones. Good attitude, team player, young but experienced, and gets good push on passing downs.

Fletcher is another players I always liked. Special teams and good depth.

Yea Jones has some fight in him. During the year of living dangerously at DT, he did everything he could and then some. Hard to forget how he played above his expectation to shore up an astonishingly weak area. So unless Thornton is showing real promise and he can't make it to the PS, Jones is a proven level of production added to the mix. Adding Jones makes for a DT mix that should be modestly solid thru to the SB.

Fletcher has proven he can be a semi decent backup-rotation guy that still may have some growth of his ceiling. Again we add proven production to a space that has existing actives without proven production. Bostic is the extra wildcard. He hasn't done anything for the Patriots has he? While it is a bit early for him, I'm surprised he can't crack any playing time at all. I hope this isn't an ominous sign that he just isn't catching on.
Anyway, IMHO I think Fletcher can definitely be used. If he isn't activated in a few weeks I hope it is because every lower depth chart active is showing too much promise to justify it.

**STs contributions are always a wildcard (though I'm unaware of the specific STs contributions of any of the mentioned names).

Fletcher could contribute immediately on special teams, and he might be better than Mayo in the base D at the moment, assuming he is not similarly limited recovering from injury. When he is ready, I expect to see him on the roster. I'm not sure about Jones. Actually, I expect the coaching staff isn't sure about any of these guys. That's why they get three weeks to assess them during practice before having to make a roster decision. Should make for some interesting competition.

Who the hell knows?

Good topic and discussion, but difficult to answer.

They can stay on Pup for 3 more weeks, why do something now, things chance fast in NFL...

IMO it depends on Slater, if he goes on IR Fletcher could be a replacement on ST's...

Not sure about Jones though, there seems to be no room.. but those f..ing injuries dictate things differently.

Dane Fletcher makes sense I've always like him when he played here he makes plays all over the Field. With Mayo's injury history he would be a guy we could plug right in and not skip a beat. Also Fletcher doubles as Special Teamer we know how BB feels about those guys.

Froob said:

What's the thinking here with these two coming off PUP sometime in the near future? D line is loaded but Jones is a pretty solid player and still very young. Fletcher has filled in nicely at times at linebacker (24-0 Denver game) and can play special teams.

Click to expand...

I could see Flowers being put on IR and Chr. Jones taking his spot on the roster. I think Fletcher is a real long shot to make the roster with Mayo, Bostic, and Freeney all being much better.

LaFell and Stork returning to practice but nothing on Fletcher or Jones. Clock not ticking yet and no urgency to bring them back.

If LaFell comes back this week, we need to cut someone. My guess would be Rufus Johnson who was not seen at practice today.