FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Wide receiver Aaron Dobson's final game with the New England Patriots was a good reflection of his three years with the club -- frustrating moments in which he didn't consistently attack the ball mixed with a few highlights that made him a highly-rated player on the Patriots' draft board in 2013.

The 59th overall selection in the '13 draft, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Dobson arrived in town with the résumé of an outside receiver who could go up and get the ball in traffic. The Patriots also liked how he was grounded at a position that seems to invite players with more a diva-type personality.

But three-plus years later, Dobson's time is coming to an end. He was informed by club officials Saturday of their intention to waive him -- and Thursday's preseason finale sums up why.

In the first quarter, Tom Brady was throwing to a spot where he expected Dobson to be, but Dobson slowed up at the top of the short slant route and the pass was intercepted. Brady's exasperated look said it all and if one could have read Brady's mind at that point, it might have been something like this: "Don't stop! Go get the ball!"

That seemed to be one of the team's main frustrations with Dobson -- a lack of urgency at times. It specifically showed up in 2014 when contrasted to free-agent signing Brandon LaFell, in part because LaFell attacked things relentlessly in his first year with the club and developed a quick rapport with Brady that Dobson never seemed to. Dobson's highlight was a 37-catch rookie season and he departs with 53 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns over three seasons.

Every now and then he showed flashes, such as his leaping second-quarter grab Thursday against the Giants, but it just wasn't consistent enough. Staying healthy was also an issue at times, as his second season was slowed by an offseason foot surgery, and then ended with a hamstring injury in late November.

But health wasn't an issue this year. This was simply about performance, and Thursday's preseason finale was reflective of how despite teasing at times with highlight plays, a lack of on-field urgency and consistency were primary reasons why it didn't work out.