Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Wednesday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
Should be an eventful day in Foxborough on Wednesday, as the players return from a couple of days off. We'll also hopefully get a chance to meet the new guys on the active roster, Obi Melifonwu and Albert McClellan. (Although the guess is that'll likely come Thursday.) And it's the first practice of the week, which means we could get some clarity around the health situations for Rob Gronkowski and Sony Michel.
--Bill Vinovich will work as the referee for Sunday's game. This is the first New England game of the year for Vinovich -- his last Patriots' game was the 2017 opener against the Chiefs. New England has gone 4-1 in its last five Vinovich games, including Super Bowl XLIX.
--Free-agent workouts from Tuesday -- running back Josh Ferguson (Illinois) and offensive lineman Menelik Watson (Florida State).
--There could also be some clarity around Bruce Irvin's status as well on Wednesday, as he cleared waivers Tuesday and is now a free agent.
UPDATE, 9:25 a.m.: So much for that...
The #Raiders tried to trade Bruce Irvin for a while and found no takers. Once him and his hefty salary cleared waivers, it was a different story. The #Seahawks, #Patriots and #Steelers all tried to sign him, but he opted for a 1-year deal with the #Falcons to resurrect his career
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 7, 2018
The pass rush is what we want ?️ @Patriots #GoPats pic.twitter.com/5yr4YA4yk2
— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) November 7, 2018