Patriots Taking Closer Look at Unexpected Veteran WR to Finish the Season

The New England Patriots will wrap up the 2024 season in a few weeks and put the finishing touches on the first year of the Jerod Mayo era.

However, before we get to Week 18, the Pats are still bringing in various players to see if they are worth signing to a futures/reserves contract next month. According to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, the Patriots have signed veteran wide receiver Alex Erickson to the practice squad.

The Patriots only have two other wide receivers on the practice squad in John Jiles and Braylon Sanders. Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Erickson has been a free agent this season after spending last year with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The veteran wideout appeared in eight games (three starts) last season and had 16 receptions (29 targets) for 222 yards and a touchdown. 

Before joining the Chargers last season, Erickson was released by the New York Jets last August after signing with Washington to a futures/reserve contract at the end of the 2022 season. 

The veteran wide receiver has also played with the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, and Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent five seasons.

Erickson's best season as a pro was in 2019 with Cincy, where he had 43 receptions (78 targets) for 529 yards. Over his eight-year career, the veteran receiver has 112 receptions (181 targets) for 1,373 yards and two touchdowns.

The Patriots have made it clear that they are going with a youth movement at wide receiver this season, making the signing of Erickson to the taxi squad puzzling.

However, maybe the Patriots want to pick Erickson’s brain to see if he can give them any notes on the Chargers, who they will play in Week 17, even though it’s an entirely different coaching staff in LA this season.

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