FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots’ search for another wide receiver continued Thursday when they worked out free agents Griff Whalen, Jared Abbrederis and Kevin Smith, multiple sources told NESN.com.
The Patriots only have three healthy wide receivers on their roster after Danny Amendola, who also returns punts for New England, suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 13. The Patriots worked out rookie Dez Stewart on Tuesday.
Whalen, a Stanford product, most recently was on the San Diego Chargers. He has 47 career receptions for 509 yards with three touchdowns for the Chargers and Indianapolis Colts. He’s returned 46 punts for 376 yards and 29 kicks for 701 yards.
Whalen was part of the Colts’ failed fake punt in 2015 against the Patriots.
Abbrederis, a Wisconsin product, caught 10 passes for 119 yards in two seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He returned 55 punts for 587 yards with one touchdown and 31 kicks for 800 yards with the Badgers.
Smith, who went undrafted out of Washington in 2014, caught three passes for 43 yards with the Seattle Seahawks last season. Smith returned 62 kicks for 1,445 yards and two punts for 17 yards in four seasons with the Huskies.
The Patriots also worked out linebacker Taiwan Jones and defensive back Dezman Southward.
Thumbnail photo via Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports Images
