Report: 'No guarantee' Danny Amendola will be ready by Week 1 after surgeries
The Patriots' wide receiver accepted a substantial pay cut last week
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This hasn't been the best offseason for Danny Amendola. Not only did he accept a substantial pay cut to remain with the Patriots, but he also reportedly underwent two surgeries that could sideline him until -- or into -- the regular season.
As the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reported, Amendola's left knee and ankle were operated on earlier in the offseason. The timeline for his return, according to Howe, could be as soon as training camp, which is scheduled to commence at the end of July. But there's apparently "no guarantee" he'll be ready by the start of the regular season, Howe wrote. The worry seems to be directly related to the knee surgery -- not the ankle.
The Patriots are, at least, prepared for the worst case scenario. They signed former Bills wideout Chris Hogan and added depth in the form of Nate Washington this offseason. They also traded for Martellus Bennett, but that deal most likely has nothing to do with Amendola's injury considering Bennett gives the Patriots a lethal tight end combination that even had Rex Ryan at a loss for words. In other words, that trade was a no-brainer for the Patriots, regardless of Amendola's health.
They then reworked Amendola's contract last week so that he lost out on $4.4 million. Perhaps the surgeries played a role. After all, if Amendola had tested the open market, he probably wouldn't have lucked into a lucrative contract considering his health is in doubt and he's 30 years old. Staying with the Patriots was his best option and the organization likely knew that when they entered negotiations.
Because he's familiar with the system, Amendola shouldn't experience any difficulty transitioning back into the offense. He's clearly not Brady's top option, but he's a reliable target. Last year, Amendola brought down 65 passes for 648 yards and three touchdowns.
