FOXBORO, Mass. — Akeem Ayers officially has joined the New England Patriots.
The Patriots announced Wednesday morning that they had acquired the 25-year-old linebacker from the Tennessee Titans. Terms of the trade weren’t disclosed, but CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported Tuesday that the Patriots swapped a sixth-round draft pick for a Titans seventh-rounder to pull off the deal.
The Patriots released linebacker Ja’Gared Davis to make roster room for Ayers. Davis likely will fill one of the Patriots’ two open spots on the practice squad if he clears waivers.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick discussed Ayers’ versatility in a news conference at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday.
“We’ll see,” Belichick said about Ayers’ role with the Patriots. “Start working with him today. He’s played linebacker. He’s played defensive end in sub situations. So we’ll start working with him.”
Ayers had two surgeries over the offseason to repair his patellar tendons in both knees. Since the Patriots announced the trade, that means Ayers passed his physical with the team.
Ayers could play a number of roles with the Patriots, including strong-side linebacker, outside linebacker and defensive end.
