After playing 12 snaps in last Thursday's preseason opener, Patriots second-year tight end Devin Asiasi should expect to play a heck of a lot more this week against the Eagles.
Asiasi figures to be the only active tight end with Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith and Matt LaCosse all dealing with injuries, and then the team releasing David Wells and Troy Fumagalli this week. On top of that, Dalton Keene has already been played on season-ending injured reserve.
The increased playing time will be good for the UCLA product, who missed the first week or so of training camp following testing positive for COVID-19. Getting all the reps that he has this week has increased his confidence both from a playing standpoint as well as conditioning.
“A lot,” Asiasi said to reporters Tuesday. “Obviously more reps and getting out there a little more than the last couple days. Just taking it rep by rep and just trying to improve and trying to understand my assignments as I go out there.”
This won't be the only time the Patriots only dressed one tight end for a preseason game, as Steve Maneri was the lone player at the position for the second preseason game in 2014. He ended up by playing 68 snaps.
Getting more time on the field will be good for Asiasi, who only had two catches in his rookie season.
As of now, he figures to be the third tight end behind Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.
“Just a little more confident in what I’m doing out there,” Asiasi said. “Got a year underneath my belt. We had an offseason so we had that little spring OTA and minicamp. So getting in those extra reps and getting in the extra meeting time with the coaches plays a big part in just my confidence overall.”