Danny Amendola: Fielding punts 'like playing on the highway'

FOXBOROUGH — Danny Amendola really likes fielding punts. Either that, or he really likes playing in traffic.



“Returning punts is one of my favorite things to do in the whole world,” Amendola told reporters Monday afternoon. “It’s awesome. It’s like playing on the highway.

“But I’d advise you not to play on a highway.”

OK. With Julian Edelman and Cyrus Jones out for the season, the Patriots are in need of a punt returner. Amendola has experience at the position — he had at least 16 punt returns a year for the last three seasons, including 23 in 2015 when he finished with a career-best average of 12 yards per return. In his career, he’s averaged 10 yards per return.

So are we going to see him dodging traffic on 93 in preparation for handling the job Thursday against the Chiefs? That’s debatable. With Edelman out, he’s needed more than ever to help provide depth at the receiver spot. He could fill in as a returner, but ultimately, he might be deemed too valuable.

Highway traffic or no traffic, he’s ready if he’s called upon.

“Whatever the coaches ask me to do,” Amendola said.