Patriots add swing tackle to practice squad
The Patriots added more tackle depth on Monday, signing free agent Jalen McKenzie to their practice squad.
With injuries to multiple tackles on their active roster, the New England Patriots are beginning Week 4 by added depth at the position. On Monday, the team announced the signing of swing tackle Jalen McKenzie to the practice squad.
McKenzie, 25, is in his third year in the NFL after going undrafted out of USC in 2022. He’s yet to appear in an NFL regular season game but has experience at left tackle, right tackle, and left guard in three NFL preseasons. He measures in at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds.
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This past summer McKenzie was with the Las Vegas Raiders after spending the 2023 season on their practice squad, and allowed two pressures and no sacks in 62 pass blocking snaps in the preseason. The Raiders released McKenzie during final roster cuts Prior to the Raiders McKenzie spent time with the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks.
The Patriots had practice on Monday, which did show some encouraging signs for the tackles already on the roster. Vederian Lowe, who missed last week’s game due to an injury, was back on the field briefly at the start of practice. Rookie Caedan Wallace was also on the field and look part in the early portions of the lighter practice, after getting hurt late in Thursday night’s loss to the New York Jets.
With McKenzie’s signing, the Patriots are now back up to 15 players on the practice squad (plus International Pathway Player Jotham Russell). There is still one spot left open for the team to sign another practice squad player.
