The New England Patriots exchanged one practice-squad tight end for another Saturday afternoon.
The Patriots signed tight end Kennard Backman and released Austin Traylor, the team announced. Backman worked out for the Patriots on Friday.
Backman, who’s 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, was selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He played seven games as a rookie but didn’t accumulate any stats. He spent training camp with the Packers this summer but was released before the regular season.
Backman ran a 4.66-second 40-yard dash at his pro day last March and also posted a 1.65-second 10-yard split, 7.23-second three-cone, 4.49-second short shuttle, 9-foot, 9-inch broad jump and 35.5-inch vertical leap. He caught 39 passes for 399 yards with three touchdowns as a senior in 2014, and finished his college career with 96 catches for 979 yards and nine touchdowns.
Traylor signed to the Patriots’ practice squad Nov. 1.
Backman joins running back Tyler Gaffney, wide receivers Devin Lucien and DeAndrew White, guards Chris Barker, Jamil Douglas and Chase Farris, linebackers Trevor Bates and Trevor Reilly, and safety Shamiel Gary on the Patriots’ practice squad.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
