Patriots bring former Texans defensive lineman Joel Heath in for a free agency workout

The New England Patriots are in the middle of a busy week. Not only is the team preparing for its toughest test to date — going on the road to take on the 5-2 Baltimore Ravens — it also made numerous personnel moves, from designating Isaiah Wynn to return from injured reserve to making a change at the kicker position. Amidst it all, the Patriots also found the time to host a defensive lineman on a free agency workout.

As first reported by ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, New England had former Houston Texans defender Joel Heath in town. The 26-year-old certainly would bring considerable experience to the club if signed: after going undrafted in 2016, the Texans picked him up as a rookie free agent and he was able to make the club before going on to appear in 12 regular season and a pair of playoff contests during as an interior defender.

Heath appeared in 18 more games over the next two seasons and was brought back — he was not tendered as a restricted free agent but rather re-signed — in 2019. Coming off an injury-shortened season, however, he was unable to survive roster cuts and subsequently spent the first eight weeks of the regular season on the open market. Now, there has finally been some movement even if it just comes in the form of a workout.

Whether or not the Patriots bring Heath on board remains to be seen, but as things currently stand the team has some open spots: New England has only 52 men on its active roster at the moment — even though the 53rd spot is expected to go to first-round rookie N’Keal Harry before Saturday’s deadline to play this week — and two more open spots on its 10-man practice squad.