FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- With an open roster as a result of tight end Rob Gronkowski's one-game NFL suspension, the New England Patriots addressed depth concerns at linebacker by signing veteran Jonathan Freeny, who knows the team's defensive system from his time with the club in 2015-16.
Freeny had been released as part of the final roster cuts this year, on Sept. 2. He spent time with the Ravens and Jaguars this season, playing in three games for Baltimore.
The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Freeny also has a background on special teams, where he can add depth.
The arrival of Freeny comes at a time when Kyle Van Noy, who leads all Patriots linebackers by playing 88 percent of the defensive snaps this season, is hobbled by a calf injury sustained Nov. 26 against the Dolphins. Van Noy usually plays every snap but he was clearly not 100 percent in Sunday's win over the Bills, as he was utilized in only a limited role (15 snaps) in obvious passing situations.
Freeny, who has played in 18 games (11 starts) with the Patriots and been credited with 53 tackles, joins Elandon Roberts, David Harris, Marquis Flowers and Nicholas Grigsby on the linebacker depth chart.
Freeny will don jersey No. 44 with the Patriots, which was previously worn by practice-squad tight end Will Tye, who has switched to No. 82.
