Patriots Release Greg Salas, Mike Rivera, Lex Hilliard, Workout Seven Players

by Doug Kyed on Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 6:25PM

The Patriots are on the move.

Greg Salas — acquired on Sept. 1 from the Rams for a 2015 draft pick — was one of three players released by New England on Tuesday according to Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com. The wide receiver had a history with Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels from their time together in 2011 with the Rams. Salas was a healthy inactive on Sunday and played zero snaps in the Patriots opener against the Titans.

Linebacker Mike Rivera and fullback Lex Hilliard were also released today. Rivera was a surprise addition to the Patriots roster during final cuts, kept over veterans Bobby Carpenter and Niko Koutouvides. Rivera was a core special teamer.

Hillard was brought in as a free agent on Sept. 4 and was used as a fullback in the New England offense. He received one carry for two yards against the Cardinals. The Patriots seemed determined in the offseason to find a fullback, so it wouldn't be surprising to see that role filled by free agent acquisition.

The Patriots already filled one of those three voids by signing tight end Kellen Winslow on Tuesday. Winslow will likely take over the "joker" tight end role that Aaron Hernandez filled prior to his ankle injury.

New England brought in seven players for work outs on Tuesday including defensive tackle Antonio Dixon, offensive tackle Tommie Draheim, defensive tackle Terrell McClain, offensive tackle Nick Mondek, wide receiver Kashif Moore, wide receiver Brian Robiskie and linebacker Nathan Stupar.

Robiskie may be the most notable of that group. He was a second round pick by the Browns in 2009 and has 39 career receptions for 441 yards and three touchdowns. Dixon was waived by the Eagles on Aug. 31 and started ten games in 2010. McClain was a third round pick by the Panthers out of South Florida in 2011.

Thumbnail via Facebook/Greg Salas