SAN FRANCISCO -- The New England Patriots had free-agent cornerback C.J. Spillman in for a workout on Wednesday as they continue to explore options at a position that has undergone significant change this offseason.
Spillman, a seven-year veteran who has played for the Chargers (2009-2010), 49ers (2010-2013) and Cowboys (2014), has made his primary impact on special teams. Thus, the Patriots might be considering him to fill the void created by the release of cornerback Chimdi Chekwa on Monday, as Chekwa's work in the kicking game was previously noted by coach Bill Belichick.
Spillman has played in 85 career regular-season games (one start), showing a knack for his work as a gunner on the punt coverage team. The Patriots have one of the NFL's best gunners in Mathew Slater and have employed several players on the opposite side of him in recent years.
On Tuesday, the Patriots had free-agent cornerback Tarell Brown in for a workout as well.
