Patriots pick up place kicker Mike Nugent

Allen Lazard enters this training camp as the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 2 receiver opposite Davante Adams.

Lazard won't have to worry about making the team like he has past camps, so he'll have a different mindset. The story went on to say starting with the Detroit game, Lazard caught 35-of-52 passes (67.3 percent) for 477 yards (13.6 average) and three touchdowns over the final 11 games. Projected to 16 games, that works out to 51 receptions, 694 yards and four touchdowns. Lazard finished second on the team in third-down receptions (13). He had more third-down catches that resulted in first downs (12) then fellow receivers Geronimo Allison (six) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (five) combined, so QB Aaron Rodgers trusts Lazard, the story added.