Each day, following Patriots training camp practice, we'll highlight one intriguing "long shot" to make the roster. What might that player bring to the table for Bill Belichick's club? Who's he competing with for a spot? And what does he have to do to make the club?
FOXBORO -- One of the smoothest plays of Sunday's Patriots training camp practice was a perfectly-lofted pass from Tom Brady over the head of Patrick Chung and into the outstretched arms of Will Tye.
Who? Tye spent last season on the Patriots practice squad and is a good athlete for his size, sometimes moving more like an oversized receiver than a 260-pound tight end.
That he beat the best tight end defender on the Patriots for one of the best offensive plays of the day raised an eyebrow. In shorts and t-shirts through spring workouts, Tye came through with a handful of impressive grabs where he showed off good hands and aggressiveness in attacking footballs.
But what's his path to making the roster? He has not stood out -- thus far, at least -- as someone who will challenge Dwayne Allen as a blocker. And Jacob Hollister has come through with a handful of impressive plays of his own this summer in the passing game.
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What could end up working in Tye's favor is if the Patriots attack becomes more focused on its running backs and tight ends due to what at the moment looks like a relatively thin receiving group.
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Malcolm Mitchell, Kenny Britt and Jordan Matthews are all dealing with injuries at the moment. Julian Edelman will be suspended for the first four games of the season. If any of those players' situations means a roster spot is opened for a tight end -- the Patriots carried four on their 53-man roster briefly with Martellus Bennett last season -- then Tye could be the choice.
Of course, any special teams contributions Tye may be able to add would help his cause.
Still, Tye will likely need something to happen with one of the team's three at his position -- Gronkowski, Allen and Hollister -- to have a shot at the active roster in September.
However it happens, if Tye does get a crack, he could be a dependable insurance plan. Unlike most practice squadders from 2017, Tye has significant NFL game experience (94 catches in 32 games with the Giants and Jets from 2015-17). And as Sunday's connection with Brady showed, he has at least a tinge of chemistry with the man who will be throwing the passes in 2018.