Patriots host 5 free agents for workouts
The Patriots hosted five free agents for workouts in Foxborough on Monday, as the team opened up a roster spot.
On Monday afternoon the Patriots opened up a roster spot when they waived rookie linebacker Jontrey Hunter. At the same time, they were hosting free agents for workouts in Foxborough, giving an early indication of players who could fill that opening.
The NFL waiver wire lists the Patriots as having hosted five players for workouts on Monday. Of those five, four are on the offensive side of the ball.
That group includes two running backs, Demetric Felton and Gary Brightwell. Felton, 26, is a receiving back who also played wide receiver in college at UCLA. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round in 2021, and while there spent two years playing under current Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Felton played in 24 games for the Browns, making three starts Felton spent all of last season on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad.
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Brightwell is a bigger, more physical back at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. A sixth-round pick out of Arizona in 2021, he appeared in 37 games for the New York Giants over the last three years. Brightwell mainly played special teams in New York, but did total 41 carries during his three seasons with the team.
Two interior linemen were also in town for workouts – Jack Anderson and Mike Panasiuk. Anderson, a 2021 seventh-round pick by the Buffalo Bills, has appeared in 15 games (with three starts) over the last three years for the Eagles, Giants, and Colts.
Panasiuk is a converted defensive tackle from Michigan State, who after not sticking with an NFL team during his first two seasons in the league made the switch to playing interior offensive lineman in the XFL/UFL the last two springs. He started 21 games at center for the St. Louis Battlehawks over the last two years (but is listed as a guard on the NFL transaction wire).
The lone defensive player to workout for the Patriots was defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson. At 30 years old Johnson is entering his eighth NFL season. Last season Johnson played in 12 games for the Tennessee Titans, making four starts.
