Tyquan Thornton is reportedly coping with a soft-tissue damage forward of Patriots minicamp

The second-year receiver was on the sphere early throughout the crew’s three weeks of organized crew actions (OTAs). He was current on the first OTAs that have been open to the media on Could 31 and was a standout that day, taking part in with the beginning unit.

However Thornton wasn’t on the follow subject within the two OTAs that have been open to the media final week.

Thornton’s standout follow in Could gave some optimism that the receiver may make a leap in manufacturing in Yr 2. He was sidelined early in his rookie season after struggling a damaged clavicle within the second preseason recreation. The damage compelled him to overlook the primary 4 video games of the common season and he completed with 22 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns in 13 video games.

Thornton isn’t the one Patriots receiver coping with an damage forward of minicamp. The Patriots have been “cautious” with JuJu Smith-Schuster, who they signed this offseason, attributable to a knee damage he suffered whereas with the Chiefs within the AFC Championship Sport, based on Reiss. The severity of Smith-Schuster’s damage was by no means revealed although he performed within the Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl win two weeks later.

Whereas Smith-Schuster completed off the season for the Chiefs, he wasn’t seen on the follow subject throughout three classes of OTAs that have been made obtainable to the media.

Information of the damage conditions surrounding Thornton and Smith-Schuster have been revealed within the leadup to DeAndre Hopkins visiting the Patriots. The All-Professional receiver is reportedly set to cease by Foxborough someday within the upcoming week, although it isn’t identified what day he’ll be on the Patriots’ facility.

As the opportunity of the Patriots signing Hopkins seems to develop, there’s been some hypothesis that the Patriots may transfer on from a veteran receiver on their roster to assist make room for Hopkins. However the damage conditions surrounding Thornton and Smith-Schuster may trigger the Patriots to hesitate, based on Reiss.

Patriots minicamp will run Monday by way of Wednesday. After that, the crew can be off till the beginning of coaching camp. The primary day of coaching camp hasn’t been introduced but, however it sometimes begins in late July, which ought to give Thornton and Smith-Schuster at lease six weeks to relaxation and get better.