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Reggie Wayne’s contract with Patriots loaded with incentives

Reggie Wayne has the chance to earn a nice payday with the Patriots, though it’s not quite the money he’s used to making.

Wayne’s one-year deal with the Patriots, a copy of which was obtained by the Globe, contains $450,000 in full guarantees (in the form of a signing bonus). But he can make up to $2.8 million if he stays healthy and becomes a regular contributor in the offense.

Wayne’s contract includes a $1.1 million base salary (which becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the Week 1 roster), a roster bonus worth as much as $750,000 ($46,875 per game), and incentives up to $500,000 ($250,000 for 55 catches and $500,000 for 65 catches, per ESPN).

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Wayne, 36, just completed a three-year, $17.5 million contract with the Colts, who declined to re-sign him this offseason after 14 seasons and six Pro Bowls with the organization. He remained unsigned for six months as he recovered from offseason triceps surgery, but Wayne may have an immediate role in the Patriots’ offense because of injuries.

The only healthy receivers right now are Danny Amendola and unproven youngsters Chris Harper and Jonathan Krause.

The Patriots placed receivers Brandon Gibson (ACL) and Brian Tyms (foot) on injured reserve. Brandon LaFell (foot) hasn’t practiced this season and remains on the physically unable to perform list, Julian Edelman is returning from a minor camp injury, and Aaron Dobson is working his way back from a hamstring injury.

Goodbye to Bequette?

The Patriots got a head start on trimming their roster, which must be down to 75 Tuesday at 4 p.m., by cutting ties with four players Thursday, including Jake Bequette, who was trying to make the club as a tight end after being drafted as a defensive end.

Bequette, a 2012 third-round pick, was waived/injured according to the NFL wire, meaning he could revert back to the Patriots if he goes unclaimed — similar to what happened to receiver Tyms this week.

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Bequette played in three games as a rookie and five games the following year but spent the 2014 season on the practice squad. He switched to tight end and didn’t look out of place during the early practices of training camp before suffering an undisclosed injury.

The move was not entirely a surprise as new tackle/tight end Michael Williams wore Bequette’s No. 85 during a portion of Wednesday’s practice.

Also waived were offensive tackle Mark Asper and linebacker Cameron Gordon. In addition, New England released defensive tackle Antonio Johnson.

None of the moves come as a surprise, though Gordon had some nice moments in camp. Veterans Asper and Johnson were caught in a numbers crunch because several younger players emerged at those positions during the summer.


Jim McBride of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com.