Patriots bring three players in for free agency workouts

Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Related: Patriots release offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch

Despite entering Week 5 with an unblemished record, the New England Patriots never stop looking at potential reinforcements or additions to their emergency lists. The team therefore conducts free agency workouts on a regular basis, and the latest of which saw three players visit Gillette Stadium:a pair of wide receivers was brought in, as first reported by ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, as was a rookie linebacker.

Let’s take a closer look at them.

WR Jazz Ferguson

Northwestern State-Louisiana product Jazz Ferguson did not hear his name called on draft weekend, but did find an NFL home as a rookie free agent: the Seattle Seahawks picked him up and he went on to become a preseason standout for the team. Appearing in all four contests during the summer, the 6-foot-5 pass catcher finished with seven receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown — leading the team in each category. While Ferguson went on to open the regular season on the Seahawks’ practice squad, he was released from it again two weeks ago.

WR Kelvin McKnight

Like Ferguson, Kelvin McKnight also did not hear his name called during the draft this year. Instead, the 5-foot-8 wide receiver out of Samford joined the Denver Broncos as an unselected free agent. But while he did have some solid moments during the summer — he finished preseason with seven catches for 43 yards and eight punt returns for 39 — the team opted to part ways with the rookie during roster cutdowns. McKnight has been on the open market ever since.

LB Sutton Smith

A standout at Northern Illinois, Sutton Smith decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL’s 2019 draft. He did get selected, but had to wait until the sixth round to hear his name called: the 6-foot-1, 240-pound linebacker was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers but his career got off to a slow start as an abdominal injury forced him to miss most of training camp as well as two preseason games. Smith, who also saw some practice reps at fullback, did appear in two exhibition games but ultimately failed to make the Steelers’ roster or practice squad.

from Pats Pulpit - All Posts https://ift.tt/2mQa4kz