Patriots: Mohamed Sanu getting second chance from Cam Newton and Marqise Lee
By Adam Weinrib
New England Patriots WR Mohamed Sanu got a golden chance when Marqise Lee opted out.
Mohamed Sanu would like to prove his worth to the Patriots in 2020 after a disappointing and injury-plagued ’19 season, which existed in stark contrast to the contributions of Emmanuel Sanders post-deadline in San Francisco.
Needless to say, this weekend was huge in every respect for Sanu. But, like his short Pats tenure thus far, it took an unexpected turn at the very end.
First, the embattled Patriot showed off a little bit on his social media once again, showcasing a long bomb he caught from Cam Newton in a private workout at Dexter Southfield High School in Brookline, MA. The two have been linked up in private for quite a while now, in case you had any qualms about who the soon-to-be Patriots QB views as his most trusted options.
And, as if these one-on-one workouts weren’t enough to convince you that Sanu had a prominent role handed to him on a silver platter this offseason, the Patriots depth chart shed one significant competitor this weekend, too.
Former Jaguars deep threat Marqise Lee, lurking behind Sanu in the WR2 competition, has opted out of 2020, removing Sanu’s safety net and giving him a bit more leeway in his attempt to prove himself.
News story: WR Marqise Lee explains his decision to opt out.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 1, 2020
“I told Coach [Belichick], I wouldn’t be doing him justice going out there because I wouldn’t be able to give him my all knowing my family was back at the house worrying about their situation.” https://t.co/pv5IcMZAjr
Sanu played both sides of the fence so far this offseason, spotted in private workouts with both Newton and Jarrett Stidham. He did everything he could on a surgically-repaired ankle to make it clear that he’s a confident possession receiver, as well as a bonafide field-stretcher. Without Philip Dorsett and now Lee, his role was going to have to evolve with a new man under center in New England.
Of course, then the news dropped Sunday — even with a clear path to playing time, Sanu would still open camp on the PUP list. Luckily, he passed his physical on Tuesday, and has now been cleared. But this final, unexpected hurdle proved this second chance could be easily squandered.
We’ve seen a different Sanu in 2020. One who networks. One who speeds down the field. A man with a set of connections.
Like 2019, there isn’t much left behind him on the Patriots’ depth chart. Unlike 2019, he seems ready to make sure that an insurance policy would be very unnecessary.