FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

Eric Decker has officially joined the New England Patriots receivers club, jumping into a pool with others looking to hurry up and get on the same page with Tom Brady.

Beyond adding much-needed depth, it’s hard to say with any certainty what Decker’s impact will be with the offense. Because what the Patriots appear to be lacking is something Decker can’t provide right away.

Can he quickly morph into a go-to guy on third down? Will he be someone Brady looks to in must-make situations when the QB is up against it?

That would help, because the fear this year is that the cupboard is practically bare in that department. Already, there’s a bit of panic over Brady not having enough receivers he trusts with the game on the line.

Danny Amendola, his best third-down target and clutch receiver last season, is now in Miami with the Dolphins.

Julian Edelman, meanwhile, Brady’s best chainmover and go-to receiver, is coming back from significant knee injury and will be out the first four games while serving a suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

That’s a lot of dependability not joining the huddle for Game 1. But does it mean the Patriots’ quarterback can’t survive with what’s left?

While the wide receiver group is thin, largely unproven, and doesn’t have a ton of reps and quality time with Brady, there are others in the realm of the offense who can deliver in the clutch.

When the Pats needed to rally last year in the fourth quarter at Pittsburgh in Week 15, Brady went to tight end Rob Gronkowski repeatedly. It was like no one else was on the field. Brady hit Gronk with three straight passes for 79 yards en route to the go-ahead touchdown.

So, Brady still has the best tight end in football, and one of the best offensive weapons in the league at his disposal. Of course, defenses will try to blanket Gronk with double coverage, hoping to take that option away.

In that case, where else might Brady turn?

There’s third-down back James White. He was the man in Super Bowl LI. Down 25 points late in the third quarter, when Brady had to keep making plays, he kept finding White, who caught a Super Bowl record 14 passes.

Brady is also comfortable with Chris Hogan. He’s made strides and gained Brady’s trust. He’s been in the special side sessions with Brady during training camp practices.

Hogan wants to be that guy, the one Brady looks to in those gotta-have-it moments.

Sure, Hogan would love to do what Amendola did against the Jaguars in the AFC championship game, when the Pats made another comeback. He’d love to be on the receiving end of those must-make Brady passes.

With Amendola gone, Edelman out, and the focus of defenses sure to be on Gronkowski, Hogan says Brady can depend on him. But, Hogan also says there are plenty of guys worthy of Brady’s attention.