Report: Patriots Bringing Back Jordan Richards To Fill Open Roster Spot

The New England Patriots are bringing a familiar face on the field. The team signed safety Jordan Richards as confirmed by ESPN’s Field Yates.

“The Patriots are signing veteran S Jordan Richards, per source. Richards, who started 12 games for the Falcons last season, spent 2015-2017 in New England.”

Richards has been a free agent since the Oakland Raiders released him during the final roster cuts this summer. He played his first three seasons with the /after being drafted in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Richards lacks the speed and fluidity of a defensive back the size of a linebacker, so he struggled in both roles for New England and is considered one of the more prominent draft busts in the time of Bill Belichick.

The Patriots have added a lot of depth to their secondary, and Richards will be used in the kicking game. He led the Patriots in special teams snaps in 2017, his final season with the squad.

Richards started 12 games for the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 after New England traded him for a seventh-round draft pick after the 2018 preseason. He will join forces with Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Jonathan Jones and Nate Ebner.

“The Patriots are bringing back a familiar face for some special teams depth. According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Patriots are re-signing safety Jordan Richards. Richards was with the Falcons last season (starting 12 games when all their safeties got hurt), but spent the previous three years with the Patriots.

“The former second-rounder from Stanford went to camp with the Raiders this year, but was released in final cuts. He brings some background to their coverage units, which struggled at times against the Bills.”

New England had one open spot on their 53-man roster. They released offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch on Tuesday, and they will have to pull out an additional roster move to activate tight end Ben Watson for the game against the Washington Redskins.

The Patriots are getting ready for Sunday and the Redskins.