Watson happy for second chances

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The first pass Ben Watson saw on Monday night surprised him.

Especially when it bounced off his facemask.

It wasn’t the start the veteran tight end was hoping for as he returned to the field for the first time since the preseason. Watson, however, was determined to make the most of the next opportunity that came his way.

“I’m sure that was a big blooper. I’m sure Twitter is lighting me up,” Watson said. “You know, it happens in a game and you always have another play. That’s what we try to do, come back the next play and make a play when I have the opportunity to do.”

That’s exactly what Watson did during the Patriots' 33-0 win over the New York Jets. The 38-year-old finished with three catches for 17 yards. Two of those catches came in big moments to move the chains on a third down and fourth-down conversion.

Watson was happy to have other opportunities after the initial tough start. His three catches were also the most by a Patriots tight end this season.

“You know he’s going to throw it to whoever’s open,” Watson said of quarterback Tom Brady. “One of the biggest things as receivers, tight ends, backs, when we have the opportunity to catch the ball from him, we want to do right by him. We don’t want to let him down. It builds confidence when he’s able to go back to you and you’re able to make a play.”

Brady went to Watson in the Patriots' first series. After that incomplete pass, Watson made amends with a 10-yard reception on third-and-5. Three plays later, he was the leading blocker on a Sony Michel 3-yard touchdown run for the first score of the game. The next time Brady targeted Watson, the tight end hauled in a 7-yard pass on fourth-and-6. Two plays later, the Patriots scored another touchdown.

With Matt LaCosse (knee) and Ryan Izzo (concussion) out, Watson got the start in his first game for the Patriots since 2009. He admitted he was nervous leading up to this game.

“Today I had to sit around like all day and have jitters all day so that was even worse,” Watson said. “I haven’t played a full game since last season. Definitely [there] was a little bit of jitters. A lot of things I think I did well, and some things I think I can do much better.”

Adding to his résumé

Elandon Roberts is used to hitting opposing players as hard as he can. The Patriots middle linebacker is known in the locker room as the hardest-hitting player on the team.

On Monday night, he took his talents to the offensive end.

For the first time in his NFL career, Roberts lined up at fullback against the New York Jets. He helped the Patriots replace James Develin and Jakob Johnson, who were both lost for the season with injuries. Roberts also played defense on Monday, finishing with a tackle.

“Me on the defensive side, fullbacks are just kind of in my way, so I’m going to go through you,” Roberts said. “And when I’m at the fullback, I’m going to still go through you. However you want to have it."

The 25-year-old helped lead the way for Patriots running back Sony Michel multiple times on Monday. His shining moment came with 12:32 left in the game, when he lined up in the backfield and led the way for Michel’s third rushing touchdown.

“He’s a physical guy, so I know he’s going to go in there and make a block,” Michel said. “It’s always good having him hit somebody for me and helping me try to get into the end zone.”

Roberts says he’s played fullback before, but thinks it was back in Pop Warner. The Patriots tried him out at fullback during his rookie year in OTAs, but they never asked him to do it in a game. On Monday, the team tried several players at fullback — James Ferentz and Eric Tomlinson included — but Roberts was the biggest surprise.

“I started this week in practice,” Roberts said. “I guess Coach [Bill Belichick] was confident in putting me at the position, confident that I could go out there and help them out. So I took on that role — that extra role for the team. Whatever they need from me.”