Opening day countdowns are great. So are player profiles. Here at Musket Fire, we decided to combine them and create a Week 1 countdown-oriented, jersey number-dictated player profile series. Yesterday, we looked at No. 65 Jordan Devey, and the day before that it was No. 66 Bryan Stork. Because today marks 64 days until the New England Patriots open 2015, we are profiling No. 64, offensive lineman Chris Barker.
Like Devey, Barker is a member of the undrafted 2013 class that hasn’t seen much NFL action. Coming to the NFL out of Nevada, Barker was signed by the Miami Dolphins, but was released at the end of training camp.
From that point, the Patriots swooped in and claimed the 310-pound lineman off waivers. As a rookie, Barker logged minutes in four games.
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A year to the day after the Pats initially signed him, Barker found himself on the couch once again, and then joined the practice squad. But when Jerod Mayo went down at midseason, Barker joined the active roster along with Jonas Gray. The Week 7 encounter with the New York Jets proved to be his only game action in 2014.
Right now, Barker has to be considered a very long shot to make the team. Although both guard positions will have new starters, Barker will be fighting for the final depth roles. Devey and Kline will be Barker’s main competitors for the slots behind Tre’ Jackson, Shaq Mason and Cameron Fleming.
Anything can happen in the dog days of summer, and Barker deserves respect for sticking around in the NFL for two seasons, but the influx of new talent on the offensive line does not bode well for the Covina, California native.
In case you missed them, here are the profiles for No. 67 Josh Kline, No. 68 Caylin Hauptmann, No. 69 Shaq Mason, No. 71 Cameron Fleming, No. 72 Joe Vellano, No. 74 Trey Flowers, No. 76 Sebastian Vollmer, No. 77 Nate Solder, No. 80 Danny Amendola, No. 82 Josh Boyce, No. 84 Brian Tyms, No. 85 Jake Bequette and No. 86 A.J. Derby.
Be sure to check back on Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we celebrate 63 days until Week 1 by profiling No. 6, offensive guard Chris Barker.