FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Jimmy Garoppolo will be the starting quarterback for the first four games for the New England Patriots, but a couple of veteran receivers will not be on the roster with him.
It was cutdown day in the NFL on Saturday, when rosters needed to be trimmed to 53 players. The Patriots cut 20 players, including Aaron Dobson, a 6-foot-3 receiver who was a 2013 second-round draft pick.
New England also released veteran receiver Keshawn Martin, as well as DeAndre Carter and Chris Harper, meaning it will carry only four full-time receivers into the regular season.
One of those receivers will be Danny Amendola, who has been recovering from knee and ankle injuries. Amendola was activated Saturday from the physically-unable-to-perform list and will be available for the regular-season opener next Sunday night at Arizona.
Last year, Amendola had 65 catches for 648 yards and three touchdowns. He also played a key role in kick returns.
In seven seasons – the last three with New England after four with the Rams – he has 342 catches for 3,207 yards and 13 touchdowns in 84 games.
Dobson never lived up to his potential in New England. He had a solid rookie season (37 receptions for 519 yards), but only 38 receiving yards in four games in 2014, and then 141 yards last season.
Martin, 26, appeared in nine games for New England in 2015, pulling in 24 receptions for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He has played in 57 career games with 10 starts, and has 62 receptions for 685 yards with five touchdowns, 78 kick returns for 1,964 yards, and 94 punt returns for 858 yards with one TD.
Running back Tyler Gaffney was also cut, leaving a spot for D.J. Foster. He is on the roster with LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden, James Develin, and James White.
It was rumored a tight end would be cut, but A.J. Derby and Clay Harbor made the roster with Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett.
On defense, cutting lineman Geneo Grissom was a bit of a surprise. Grissom, 24, was chosen by the Patriots in the third round (97th overall) in 2015.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder, played in 14 games as a rookie, and finished with five total tackles and one special teams tackle.
The Patriots cut five rookies, including two 2016 draft picks.
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