Patriots Fill Roster By Signing Former Bengals Fifth-Round Pick

The surprise retirement of guard Brian Schwenke left the New England Patriots with an open roster spot as they started training camp. On Friday, the spot was filled with offensive lineman J.J. Dielman.

In the 2017 NFL Draft, Dielman left Utah as he got picked by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round. He’s also played with the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks. The 6-foot-5, 309-pound offensive lineman has yet to make his NFL debut.

Dielman, who was on the practice field for the Patriots on Friday sporting No. 63, will join Isaiah Wynn, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Yodny Cajuste, Cole Croston, James Ferentz, Hjalte Froholdt, Tyler Gauthier, Ted Karras, Cedrick Lang, Dan Skipper and Tyree St. Louis on the Patriots’ offensive line depth chart.

Dielman started 31 consecutive games (26 at right tackle; five at center) for Utah before suffering a season-ending foot injury. He also started 13 games as a junior at right tackle, earning second-team All-Pacific 12 Conference honors.

Now, the 25-year-old has a chance to prove himself as a depth interior offensive lineman in New England.

There’s no doubt that he will have a lot of competition for a backup spot on the interior, as the versatile Ted Karras, fourth-round pick Hjalte Froholdt, and three-year Patriot James Ferentz will all likely be ahead of him in the pecking order, but he is yet to show what he’s capable of.