Patriots TE Martellus Bennett makes early impression on and off the field

10:16 AM ET

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Two things stood out with New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett on Friday.

The first was an impressive catch he made in 7-on-7 passing drills, as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo delivered a laser to Bennett under the shadow of the goalpost, and Bennett reached high over his head — with safety Patrick Chung right there in competitive coverage — to haul it in.

It’s the type of play that could make Bennett especially valuable to the Patriots. When space gets tight on the field, his 6-foot-6, 273-pound frame and pass-catching skills add another lethal weapon alongside Rob Gronkowski (6-foot-6, 265 pounds) & Co.

Then, after practice, Bennett created headlines with a soundbite before talking about his appreciation for what is ahead with the Patriots in relation to how his 2015 season ended: on injured reserve.

“Football is fun. I just love playing. I ended up on IR [Dec. 8 last year], …

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