The New England Patriots signed Reggie Wayne for some wide receiver depth and Bill Belichick made another roster move soon after that, making a trade with the Detroit Lions for Michael Williams to help bolster the offensive line. Jimmy Garoppolo has been improving each week in the preseason and he is getting ready to start Week 1 for Tom Brady after Brady's suspension.
The Patriots have added Reggie Wayne to the mix and while he may not get much playing time if he makes the team, the wideout could give some nice veteran depth on the roster. Wayne has played 14 years in the league and he will be on the depth chart with Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Brandon LaFell. According to Pro Football Talk, the contract is a one-year deal and incentives could make it a $2.8 million contract.
According to the Boston Globe, Ben Volin reports that the Patriots have acquired Michael Williams from the Lions and the deal is for a future seventh round pick. Williams has not yet played in an NFL game after being picked in the seventh round in 2013 for the Lions. Williams missed his rookie year with a hand injury and he was on the practice squad last year.
The Patriots have Wayne coming in after sitting on the market all offseason and he could get the chance to play in the next preseason game for the team. The Patriots play against the Panthers on Friday night and that will be another chance for Jimmy Garoppolo to get some reps and he has steadily been improving each week. Wayne could get some work on Friday if the Patriots continue to be cautious with Julian Edelman, who is dealing with a leg injury and has been limited since early August.
The Boston Herald reports that Edelman is "close" to making a return, but it's likely he will not play in the preseason over the next two weeks. Brandon LaFell is dealing with a foot injury and that is one of the reasons why the team brought in Wayne in the first place. Some in the media have been skeptical about Wayne making the team, but with the uncertainty and depth where it is, Wayne could end up being a significant player for the Pats this season.
Pro Football Talk writes that Williams previously was a tight end at Alabama and he switched last season to the offensive line at tackle. Williams has good size at 304-pounds and 6-foot-4 and PFT writes that he is a "versatile athlete" and is the type "Bill Belichick likes" for depth. Williams could be a good backup option, as it looked like he would be getting the chance to play in Detroit this year, according to MLive.com. The site reported that Williams was "among the leaders to start" this summer at right tackle.
Check here for more on the Patriots signing Wayne and the trade for Williams.
