Derby, who landed on injured reserve last season after suffering a training camp injury, has made a good impression thus far this summer, the Boston Globe reports.
Though clearly behind Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett in the Patriots' TE pecking order, the 6-foot-5-inch, 255-pounder could end up sticking this season as the team's No. 3 or 4 option at the position. To that end, Derby is competing for slotting with Clay Harbor, Bear Pascoe, Steven Scheu and Bryce Williams.