Report: Patriots Release TE Troy Niklas, Sign WR Paul Turner
The New England Patriots have reportedly made their first roster move of the training camp portion of the season. According to ESPN’s The Patriots are releasing veteran TE Troy Niklas and signing free agent WR Paul Turner, according to a league source.
Niklas, 25, signed with the Patriots as a free agent in April. He entered training camp in, at best, the fourth spot on the TE depth chart behind Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen, and Jacob Hollister. He caught at least one pass on Friday in training camp, but apparently it wasn’t good enough to keep him around.
Turner, meanwhile, last played in an NFL game in 2016 with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 5-foot-10 wideout was cut before the start of the 2017 season, then signed a futures contract with the New Orleans Saints in January.
The 25-year-old Turner joins a wide receiver group that still includes Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Malcolm Mitchell, Kenny Britt, Jordan Matthews, Riley McCarron, and rookie Braxton Berrios. As for the tight ends, there’s still at least two roster spots to be settled after Gronkowski. It’s down to Allen, Hollister, Will Tye, and rookies Ryan Izzo and Shane Wimann.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
