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New England Patriots: 4 Risers and Fallers From Patriots OTAs

By Marcus Stanois

Aug 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) runs past Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (57) after the catch during the second quarter in a preseason NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) runs past Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (57) after the catch during the second quarter in a preseason NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots running back D.J. Foster (27) during warmups before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots running back D.J. Foster (27) during warmups before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

D.J. Foster, RB: Riser

D.J. Foster has warranted copious amounts of hype over last few weeks. The former Arizona State running back turned wide receiver joined New England as an undrafted free agent following the 2016 draft. Foster earned a spot on the Patriots 53-man roster last fall but saw limited action as a rookie.

This offseason, Foster has done nothing but help his odds of making the team for the second year in a row. In May, during the Patriots’ first media-open OTA session, the Boston Herald’s Adam Kurkjian (@AdamKurkjian) noted that Foster stood out with two touchdown catches:

While at Arizona State, Foster posted 2,458 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. On Thursday, he had another impressive grab during minicamp, according to the Providence Journal’s Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ):

Foster’s streak of miraculous catches didn’t end there, NESN’s Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) Tweeted that the running back hauled in a “diving catch” during Tuesday’s OTA:

The Patriots are poised to enter the season with five running backs on the roster: Mike Gillislee, James White, Rex Burkhead, Dion Lewis, and Brandon Bolden. Cracking a spot on the 53-man roster will be difficult for Foster but he’s only helped his chances so far this spring.

Although he would be a viable replacement if Lewis or White were injured, New England would risk losing Foster if they try sneaking him onto the practice squad. Nonetheless, any significant injury to the Patriots’ running back stable would drastically improve his odds at making the team.

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