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. 17 Aaron Dobson, and the day before that it was No. 18 Matthew Slater. Because today marks 16 days until the New England Patriots open 2015, we are profiling No. 16, wide receiver Jonathan Krause.
Signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent back in 2014, Krause joined the Patriots a week before Halloween and was placed on the practice squad. Krause has yet to be activated for an NFL game, so his last reception in a meaningful football game was during his time at Vanderbilt.
In college, Krause racked up 1,197 yards and five scores on 98 receptions. Here’s a video of his highlights with Vanderbilt:
Krause hopped on and off the Patriots’ practice squad after his initial signing, but he’s been with them ever since he re-signed on November 5th.
Krause got plenty of action on Saturday night against the New Orleans Saints. He caught six passes for 55 yards, including a 22-yard reception that led to the Patriots’ winning field goal.
Now that Brian Tyms and Brandon Gibson are out for the season, Krause will be competing with Pats veteran Josh Boyce, undrafted rookies Chris Harper and Zach D’Orazio and recent signee Reggie Wayne for the spots behind Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola on the depth chart.
Consider Krause an outside candidate to make the 53-man roster. But another season on the practice squad is a definite possibility, and there’s nothing wrong with that for this sophomore pro.
In case you missed them, here are the profiles for No. 19 Brandon LaFell, No. 21 Malcolm Butler, No. 22 Robert McClain, No. 23 Patrick Chung, No. 24 Bradley Fletcher, No. 25 Daxton Swanson, No. 26 Logan Ryan, No. 27 Tavon Wilson, No. 28 James White, No. 29 LeGarrette Blount, No. 30 Duron Harmon, No. 31 Tarell Brown, No. 32 Devin McCourty, No. 33 Dion Lewis, No. 35 Jonas Gray, No. 36 Tyler Gaffney, No. 37 Jordan Richards, No. 38 Brandon Bolden, No. 39 Travaris Cadet and No. 41 Dekoda Watson.
Be sure to check back on Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we celebrate 15 days until Week 1 by profiling the owner of the No. 15 jersey, wide receiver Zach D’Orazio.