So the Patriots currently have three players - Harry, Wynn and Develin that are on IR and potentially any two of those could be designated to return. They have a decision to make, potentially as early as this week.
Here are the rules:
At any time after six weeks have elapsed since a player was placed on Reserve/Injured or Reserve/Non-Football Injury/Illness, each club is permitted to designate two players for return from either list to the club’s 53-player Active/Inactive List.
...
A player whom the club wishes to designate for return is permitted to return to practice for a period not to exceed 21 days. The club is required to notify the League office that the player has been “Designated For Return” on the first day the player begins to practice. The player cannot be returned to the Active/Inactive List until eight weeks have elapsed since the date he was placed on Reserve.
So we are coming up to 6 weeks from when Harry was placed on IR (September 2nd) - that means that if the Patriots wish, they could designate him to return this coming week (after Oct 14). They would then have a maximum of three weeks to activate him, and he could play any time after two weeks of practice.
Wynn was placed on IR on September 17, so he is about two weeks behind Harry. If we assume he is guaranteed a slot, then it's between Develin and Harry for the second slot. Develin (September 23) is about a week back from Wynn.
So there are two issues here - first, which is more valuable to the team, Develin or Harry, and second whether Develin's neck injury is a temporary or more lasting injury.
If we assume Harry's turf toe is better by now, then if we don't see him activated this week it means they are hankering over Develin instead.
I guess the trade deadline plays into this too - if they get another receiver that lessens the need for Harry. Can Damien Harris perhaps play fullback?
Thoughts?
