Everywhere you look, Patriots receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey is making a play: getting open consistently in practice, hauling in catches through contact during preseason games, and hustling to save a Jake Bailey punt from bouncing into the end zone for a touchback.
With Tyquan Thornton (collarbone) out for about 8-10 weeks and Kristian Wilkerson missing practice and games with a concussion, Humphrey has risen from "camp body" to "roster probable" in about a week's time.
The 6-foot-3 receiver, who was last with the New Orleans Saints before joining the Patriots, has impressed both his size and versatility, playing both as an outside and slot receiver.
While talking with reporters after Monday's practice in Las Vegas, Humphrey revealed he's even taken on work at another key position on the Patriots' offense.
"I got some work during camp [at tight end]. I'm just trying to get better at it and continue to grow," he said.
That revelation, while seemingly innocuous, feels like a strong indicator that New England is gearing up to land Humphrey on the 53-man roster.
The Patriots already have a few multi-positional players, with running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery being a good example, that the team can shift around roster-wise to ensure they can stick on the squad.
Also, the Patriots' tight end depth behind Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith isn't very strong, with 2020 third-round pick Dalton Keane already being waived by the team and neither Devin Asiasi nor Matt Sokol being overly impressive. Adding Humphrey as a tight end/receiver hybrid who would mainly play special teams could be more useful than anything either of them would do.
Humphrey's ability to attack the seams and middle of the field have been on display so far this preseason, and his ability to present matchup problems with his size could make him a solid backup to DeVante Parker or the tight end group.
"I'm a big body. I know nobody's really going to lay the wood on me too hard," Humphrey said of playing as a big slot receiver, in particular. "It's just comfortable."
At this point, he might as well get comfortable with the idea of being on the Patriots' initial 53-man roster.
