BREAKING: @Patriots WR Josh Gordon (@JOSH_GORDONXII) is being conditionally reinstated, and will be able to rejoin the team Sunday. pic.twitter.com/qkkxMXjkoK — NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2019

Josh Gordon has been reinstated by the NFL and once again the New England Patriots are flush with wide receivers. At some point over the next two weeks, the Patriots will have some difficult roster decision to make at receiver and a talented player will likely not make the roster.

After losing Jermaine Kearse to injured reserve, the Detroit Lions lack experience and speed beyond their top three receivers: Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola. Right now, the final two (or three) receiver spots will likely come down to Chris Lacy, Andy Jones, Travis Fulgham and Brandon Powell, but Lions general manager Bob Quinn would likely jump at the chance to add experience or speed (preferably a player with both) to this position group.

Quinn has a history of plucking players off of other specific teams squads– including the Patriots for obvious reasons — especially after he gets to see them up close. Just last season, after the New York Giants visited Allen Park for joint practices, Quinn plucked three players from their roster over the next six months — claiming Romeo Okwara off of waivers, trading for Damon Harrison and signing Andrew Adams in the offseason, after the Giants cut him and he spent the season in Tampa Bay.

With joint practices upon us, it's important to remember that last year it was the Giants that came to Allen Park, then over the next 6 months, Bob Quinn acquired 3 Giants players he saw in those practices:

Romeo Okwara

Snacks Harrison

Andrew Adams — Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) August 5, 2019

So with the Patriots recently joining the Lions for joint practices in Allen Park and with them flush with receivers, let’s take a look at their receiver depth and see who could be on the bubble.

Most Patriots beat writers believe Gordon, Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry (their 2019 first-round pick) are locks, while Jakobi Meyers has played well enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster — so far through camp, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe noted that Meyers has been seen the most targets and made the most receptions thrown by quarterback Tom Brady.

According to Howe in his latest piece on Gordon returning (subscription required), he identified “(Phillip) Dorsett, (Maurice) Harris and (Braxton) Berrios will conceivably compete for the fifth spot.”

Howe isn’t alone in his opinion, fellow beat writers Zack Cox of NESN and Evan Lazar of CLNS media, echoed his assessment, identifying the same three players as fighting for a final spot on Twitter.

Dorsett is only 26-years old, is on a one-year contract (worth $2.1 million if traded per Over the Cap) and has legit 4.33 speed. The former first-round pick of the Colts has never caught more than 33 passes and only started 11 games in his four-year career, but he could be an ideal fourth option for the Lions. He is a take the top off the defense kind of weapon that is missing in their scheme. If the Patriots decide he isn’t going to make the roster, don’t be surprised if they call Quinn and ask for a conditional 7th round pick.

Berrios absolutely torched the Lions defense during joint practices. After being drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2018 draft, Berrios rookie season was cut short as he landed on injured reserve last September. Berrios has 4.44 speed but also elite quickness and seems an ideal fit for the Patriots scheme. He may win their fifth receiver spot.

Harris is a 6-3, 200 pounds, receiver with 4.61 speed that would not likely draw the Lions’ attention. Dontrelle Inman is similar in size, a tick faster with 4.52 speed and drew the Lions’ interest in the offseason. If the Lions were to choose between them, they would likely prefer Inman, despite the reports of him having a subpar camp.

If all four of the above Patriots receiver became available, expect Quinn to target them in the ranked order, with the preferred option being Dorsett, as he brings a speed option that is clearly a missing piece among the Lions receiving corps.