Patriots reportedly work out a trio of players, including a familiar face

The New England Patriots’ personnel department has been busy the last two days. On Monday, the team released two players and moved a third one to injured reserve, before filling the open roster spots again on Tuesday: the Patriots signed a pair of wide receivers and also brought in a running back. While the roster is at the 53-man maximum right now, more moves could follow in the near future.

Yesterday, as first reported by ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, the team worked out three more free agents. Let’s take a look at them:

RB Orleans Darkwa

Darkwa originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2014. After a short stint with the Miami Dolphins, he was signed by the New York Giants late during his rookie season. The Tulane product was quickly able to establish himself with the team as a depth running back and core special teamer that saw his role grow over the next three years. In 2017, he finally became a regular member of the Giants’ rotation at the position. The result was a career performance: Darkwa finished with 190 touches for 867 yards and five touchdowns.

RB Charles Sims

Sims also joined the NFL in 2014, albeit as a third-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A versatile back, the West Virginia product appeared in 47 games over his four years with the team and registered 245 carries for 958 yards and two touchdowns as well as 129 catches for 1,190 yards and six scores. Despite his experience, however, Sims was a relative afterthought during this year’s free agency. He eventually re-joined the Buccaneers but was placed on injured reserve in late August. A week later, he was released with an injury settlement.

WR Brandon Tate

Tate is the most experienced of the three free agents to work out for the Patriots – and a familiar face: the 2009 third-round draft pick spent the first two years of his career with New England as a depth wide receiver and kickoff returner. After failing to make the team’s 2011 squad, Tate joined the Cincinnati Bengals – he now is the franchise’s all-time leader in return yardage – and later the Buffalo Bills. Tate spent the summer with the New Orleans Saints but was released during final cutdowns.

While it would not be a surprise to see one of the three players added to the squad at one point further down the line, it would be a surprise if a move happened this week: the Patriots already added three new players this week and will likely first try to see how they respond to the challenge before making potential additional moves.