Patriots add veteran wide receiver to practice squad

On Wednesday the New England Patriots signed veteran wide receiver Alex Erickson to their practice squad. The New England Patriots are adding a veteran to their wide receiver room for the final stretch of the 2024 regular season, via a practice squad signing. As first reported by Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald, the team has signed Alex Erickson to the practice squad. For Erickson, 32, this is his first time on an NFL roster this year. He spent parts of last season with the Washington Commanders, New York Jets, and Los Angeles Chargers. That included appearing in eight games for the Chargers, recording 16 catches for 232 yards and a touchdown. Alex Erickson spent most of last year with the Chargers, after five seasons with the Bengals. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports Earlier in his career Erickson played a contributing role for the Cincinnati Bengals, who signed him out of Wisconsin as a UDFA in 2016. In five seasons in Cincinnati Erickson played in 80 games, catching 93 passes for 1,086 yards and a touchdown. He was also the Bengals' primary kickoff and punt returner, leading the NFL in kickoff return yards in 2016. While in Cincinnati Erickson overlapped with current Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Van Pelt was the Bengals' quarterbacks coach from 2018-2019. MORE: NFL Draft prospects for Patriots fans to watch in the College Football Playoff In New England Erickson will be one of three wide receivers on the practice squad, joining Braylon Sanders and John Jiles. The Patriots have five wide receivers on their active roster. No move was needed to open up a spot for Erickson, with the Patriots releasing offensive lineman Liam Fornadel from the practice squad on Monday. There is still an open spot on the active roster.