Patriots sign center off Packers’ practice squad
A day after releasing center Nick Leverett, the Patriots added a player at the position signing Lecitus Smith.
The revolving door at center continued for the New England Patriots on Tuesday. A day after releasing Nick Leverett, the team re-added at the position by signing Lecitus Smith off the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad.
Smith’s signing was announced Tuesday afternoon, as part of a series of transactions. In addition to signing Smith the Patriots released a center in practice squader Sincere Haynesworth, and signed cornerback Miles Battle to the practice squad.
Smith, 26, was a sixth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 out of Virginia Tech. After spending his rookie season in Arizona Smith spent time with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles before signing with the Packers this spring. He was released during final roster cuts then immediately re-signed to Green Bay’s practice squad back in August.
As a rookie, Smith appeared in 10 games including two starts with the Cardinals. He played exclusively guard, which was his position in college. However, he’s spent the last two preseasons working mainly at center, including playing the position exclusively this past summer.
In New England, Smith will add needed depth on the interior of the offensive line. Not only did the team release Leverett this week, but starting left guard Michael Jordan also left Sunday’s game due to an injury and did not return. Meanwhile, rookie guard Layden Robinson was inactive after dealing with an ankle injury during the week. Smith will likely back up Ben Brown at center after Brown got the start on Sunday – just three days after being signed by the Patriots – and played well.
With one center added to the roster on Tuesday, the Patriots moved on from another. Haynesworth’s release comes just one week after he first signed with the Patriots’ practice squad.
To fill his spot on the practice squad the Patriots signed Battle, a UDFA out of Utah who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs following the draft this past spring. Battle, who was released by the Chiefs during final roster cuts, brings good size to the position at 6-foot-3, 197 pounds. This preseason he played just 18 defensive snaps for the Chiefs, plus nine more on special teams.
With these moves, the Patriots’ active roster (53 players) and practice squad (16 players) are both full.
