4 risks the Patriots are taking with their final 53-man roster

Keeping just two tight ends on the roster

Some of the least competitive positions throughout training camp and the preseason this year wound up being the running backs and tight ends.

After Jonnu Smith was traded and Mike Gesicki was signed, there was no question about who the top tight ends would be for the 2023 reason. But because the former Dolphin is not known for his blocking and will be primarily used as a jumbo wide receiver, who would be sitting behind him on the depth chart became more of the conversation this summer.

Throughout the last few weeks of practices, it didn't appear that any other tight end was performing well enough to earn that TE3 spot despite Gesicki being held out due to a shoulder injury. But because the offensive line has been a consistent weakness and Gesicki won't be used much as a blocker, it was assumed that Belichick would retain at least three tight ends.

But that didn't happen.

The four other tight ends on the roster all summer were cut, and just one was signed back to the practice squad. And one day later, veteran tight end Pharaoh Brown was also signed. This leaves just Gesicki and Henry on the main roster.

Could that be a mistake? Possibly, but time will tell.