Patriots sign tight end to active roster off Bengals practice squad

Share

FOXBORO -- The Patriots have a new face in their tight end meeting room. 

According to Jim McBride of the Boston Globe, the team has signed tight end Matt Lengel off of the Bengals practice squad to take up the open spot on its active 53-man roster that was created after linebacker Jamie Collins was traded to Cleveland. Per league rules, the Patriots are required to pay Lengel as a member of its active roster for three weeks. 

Lengel signed with the Bengals last year as an undrafted free agent, and he has been on the Cincinnati practice squad for the bulk of his season-and-a-half with the team. He began his college career at Northeastern then transferred to Eastern Kentucky, where he caught 16 passes in 2014.

The 6-foot-7, 266-pounder was present for Wednesday's practice at Gillette Stadium along with fellow tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett. He wore No. 82.

The Patriots have added some depth to that spot after going into last weekend's game versus Buffalo with Gronkowski and Bennett as the only two tight ends on the roster. The team also acquired practice-squad tight end Austin Traylor earlier this week. Fullback James Develin and practice-squad fullback Glenn Gronkowski could serve some tight end roles if called upon as the fullback duties and tight end duties in the Patriots offense have some similarities. 

Contact Us