A day after cutting the roster down to 53 players, the Patriots didn't rest as they traded for a wide receiver, released a linebacker and signed an offensive lineman this afternoon. Plus, they set their practice squad with seven players (leaving one open spot).
New England traded a late-round draft pick in 2015 to St. Louis for wide receiver Greg Salas, who was a fourth-round pick in 2011. He played in six games last season before breaking his leg. He had 27 catches for 264 receiving yards with three fumbles. He was an AP third-team All-American at Hawaii in 2010. His two biggest games as a rookie were eight catches for 77 yards against Green Bay on October 16 and seven catches for 59 yards against Arizona on November 6 (the game where he got injured). He provides depth for the Pats receiving corps which was dangerously thin after releasing Donte' Stallworth, Jabar Gaffney (who could return) and Deion Branch.
The Patriots also claimed offensive lineman Matt Tennant from the Saints, who has experience at center. The Boston College product is entering his third season in the NFL. A fifth-round pick in 2010, he appeared in 28 games (no starts) for New Orleans. Like Salas, he will be a versatile guy on the offensive line, which is always ravaged by injuries no matter what.
Finally, linebacker Bobby Carpenter was released. Frankly, I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. Patriots beat writers claimed he looked good in training camp but he's been a nobody for years in the NFL, so what made me think that he suddenly turned the corner? The only surprising part is that Mike Rivera made the team and will be a backup linebacker. Before this preseason, I had never even heard of him.
The Patriots practice squad:
1) guard Thomas Austin (former Patriot)
2) fullback Eric Kettani (Navy alum, spent 2011 on Pats practice squad)
3) wide receiver Eric Kirkland (undrafted rookie from Kent State)
4) offensive tackle Jeff Kopa (spent 2011 on Pats practice squad)
5) tight end Alex Silvestro (formerly a defensive end on last seaosn's practice squad)
6) linebacker Jeff Tarpinian (played in 7 games with 1 start last season for New England)
7) cornerback Malcolm Williams (2011 7th round draft choice, played in 5 games last season)
UPDATE 9/3: The Patriots signed fullback James Develin to the practice squad. He was a defensive lineman at Brown and found himself on the Bengals' practice squad the last two seasons.
UPDATE 9/4: Kettani was released from the practice squad which makes sense since they have Develin. Also, running back Lex Hilliard (a former Dolphin and more recently Viking) was signed while Tennant was released. Other than Hilliard, they worked out nine players today including former Eagles quarterback Mike Kafka and plan to work out former Seahawks, Buccaneers and Browns tight end Kellen Winslow later this week. You can't read too much into those, they are simply updating their emergency lists for the regular season.
Offensive lineman Jeremiah Warren was signed to the practice squad, taking Kettani's spot. He was with New England in the preseason and was cut last Friday as the team got down to 53 players on the active roster.
UPDATE 9/5: Kirkland was released from the practice squad and re-signed wide receiver Kerry Taylor that played in New England's final preseason game. Stop me if you've heard this before, the Pats signed a scrub tight end: former Ram Michael Hoomanawanui while Visanthe Shiancoe was placed on IR with the new designation to return (practice after Week 6, game after Week 8). Like Greg Salas acquired last weekend, Hoomanawanui is quite familiar with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels since they were both in St. Louis.
