Will Ford be tough?
What can Pats expect from newly acquired wide receiver?
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — What can the Patriots expect from Isaiah Ford, their newly acquired wide receiver?
“He’s a very competitive kid, a really good route runner,” said former Dolphins coach Adam Gase. “He has the flexibility to play both inside and outside. Extremely smart. I think that’s a good player for them to get. He competes.”
In a rare intra-division trade Tuesday, the Patriots sent the Dolphins a 2022 conditional seventh-round draft pick in exchange for Ford, a 24-year-old, 6-foot-2-inch wideout. Following the move, Gase and others who have worked with Ford shared nothing but glowing reviews.
“I always loved being around him,” said Gase, whose Jets host the Patriots on Monday night. “The couple years we were together, things were going good for him.”
Current Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who was hired following Gase’s firing after the 2018 season, praised Ford too.
“I have a lot of respect and admiration for Isaiah Ford,” Flores said Wednesday. “He’s someone who worked extremely hard and made a lot of plays for us. He’s team-oriented and put the team first with a great attitude. I really enjoyed working with him.”
Patriots running back Brandon Bolden, who spent the 2018 season with Miami, also chimed in on Twitter to call Ford a “great guy and former locker mate.”
Drafted in the seventh round out of Virginia Tech in 2017, Ford spent all of his early professional career with the Dolphins. He missed his rookie season after suffering a knee injury that required surgery during training camp. In 2018, he split time between the practice squad and active roster, appearing in only one game, in which he was targeted once but had no catches.
In 2019, Ford still bounced between Miami’s practice squad and active roster, but he began to earn more consistent playing time. In eight games, he caught 23 passes on 35 targets for 244 yards. He also logged an 11-yard rushing attempt.
The second-best game of Ford’s career came against the Bills in Week 2 this season, when he caught 7 of 9 targets for 76 yards, also from Fitzpatrick.
Ford has been active for two games against the Patriots, this year’s season opener and last year’s regular-season finale. He didn’t make much noise in September, catching just two passes for 13 yards, but made a bigger impact last December, notching seven receptions for 54 yards.
There will be plenty of opportunities for Ford to contribute with the Patriots. With Julian Edelman on injured reserve and N’Keal Harry still sidelined with a concussion, the Patriots could use some depth at receiver. In addition to Ford, the team has Damiere Byrd, Jakobi Meyers, and Gunner Olszewski available on the depth chart.
Isaiah Zuber is also a candidate off the practice squad.
Injury woes: Harry will miss his second straight game because of a concussion. Harry was ruled out against the Jets and hasn’t practiced since getting rocked in Week 7 by 49ers defensive back Tarvarius Moore.
The Patriots will also be without rookie running back J.J. Taylor, who missed practice all week because of an illness. Taylor had been a healthy scratch for two of the team’s last three games.
In addition to Harry and Taylor, kicker Nick Folk did not participate in Saturday’s practice because of a back injury. Folk, who was a full participant Thursday and Friday, is listed as questionable for Monday’s game.
If he can’t go, the team will likely temporarily elevate rookie Justin Rohrwasser off the practice squad. Rohrwasser, a fifth-round pick, has yet to make his NFL debut.
Left tackle Isaiah Wynn (ankle), who did not participate in team drills on Friday, returned to practice in a limited capacity.
Wynn is among 17 Patriots considered questionable, joining Folk, linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (groin), linebacker Shilique Calhoun (knee), defensive tackle Carl Davis (concussion), safety Cody Davis (calf ), safety Kyle Dugger (ankle), cornerback Stephon Gilmore (knee), defensive tackle Lawrence Guy (shoulder, elbow, knee), running back Damien Harris (ankle), tight end Ryan Izzo (hamstring), cornerback J.C. Jackson (knee), tight end Dalton Keene (knee), guard Shaq Mason (calf ), defensive end John Simon (elbow), guard Joe Thuney (ankle), and defensive end Deatrich Wise (knee, hand).