To call the Patriots tight end situation unsettled would be only mildly accurate. Rob Gronkowski isn't walking through that door. Ben Watson is suspended for the first four games of the season. Enter Matt LaCosse, who the Patriots signed back in March. The Patriots will need at least some experienced depth at tight end and as it stands LaCosse represents that with 2019 marking his fifth year in the NFL. Beyond LaCosse and Watson, the roster includes Stephen Anderson, Ryan Izzo, Andrew Beck and the just-signed Lance Kendricks.
While it is still very early to predict what the University of Illinois product can do for the 2019 Patriots, on day two of training camp he showed some potential.
"It is obviously a big opportunity," LaCosse told reporters after Friday's practice. "But again, nothing has been given to me yet. Just got to go out there and work. The whole room is talented. It's a talented team."
At Friday's practice LaCosse had arguably the play of the day as he corralled a deep seam ball from Brian Hoyer in the end zone for a touchdown. LaCosse used every bit of his 6-foot-6-inch 225-pound body to secure the pass despite double coverage from Duron Harmon and Elandon Roberts.
For LaCosse, it was the second time during Friday's practice session that he ran that exact route and he was determined to make the second better than the first.
"It was nice to have that one after the first one. The first bounced a little bit. That happens, it's how you come back from it," LaCosse said. "I'm just glad Brian was able to give me another chance and I was able to make the play. It was a good way to start the period."
It was a pass that Patriots fans have become accustomed to with Brady and Gronkowski since 2010. Neither Brady nor Gronkowski were involved in Friday's play, but it sure looked familiar and certainly a positive sign for LaCosse.
