Former New England Patriots tight end and WEEI co-host Christian Fauria must be a happy man Wednesday morning.
Fauria’s nephew, Joseph Fauria, signed to the Patriots’ practice squad, a source told ESPN’s Field Yates. Joseph Fauria was cut from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad Oct. 13.
Fauria, who went undrafted out of UCLA in 2013, spent two seasons with the Detroit Lions before being cut Sept. 5. He has 24 receptions for 281 yards with eight touchdowns in 23 career games.
The 6-foot-7, 259-pound tight end ran a 4.72-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day in 2013 with a 7.49-second 3-cone, 4.53-second short shuttle, 10-feet broad jump and 35.5-inch vertical leap. He had 88 receptions for 1,139 yards with 20 touchdowns in 40 career college games.
The Patriots have tight ends Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler and Michael Williams on their active roster and Asante Cleveland on their practice squad. Cleveland has won Patriots practice player of the week honors five times this season.
The Patriots had an open spot on their practice squad when they promoted Chris Harper to the 53-man roster.
Fauria was among nine players to work out for the Patriots on Wednesday. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday “it’s a sign of my age” to be working out the nephew of one of his former players.
Christian Fauria played for the Patriots from 2002 to 2005. He had 45 receptions for 790 yards with 13 touchdowns.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
