Patriots release defensive tackle Albert Huggins to make room for kicker Nick Folk on the 53-man roster

The New England Patriots entered the weekend without a place kicker on their 53-man roster, but according to reports were planning to bring Nick Folk back into the fold: Folk, of course, was released ahead of last week’s game against the Houston Texans after undergoing surgery on his appendix. His successor, Kai Forbath, was let go again earlier this week which in turn left the kicker position vacant — at least until today.

After all, the Patriots have officially re-signed Folk today according to ESPN’s Field Yates. During his first tenure in New England between Week 9 and his released ahead of Week 13, the 35-year-old was solid as the third kicker employed by the team after Stephen Gostkowski (season-ending hip injury) and Mike Nugent (cut after inconsistent play) and made seven of nine field goal attempts and all three of his extra point tries.

In order to create space on the roster for Folk, the Patriots have decided to part ways with recently signed defensive tackle Albert Huggins. The rookie was claimed off waivers on Monday to fill Forbath’s former spot on the team. While he brought developmental upside as a big-bodied interior defender to the table, New England apparently felt like he was the one expendable player with the team being without a kicker.

There is, however, still a chance that Huggins remains with the Patriots: the 22-year-old, who played 44 defensive snaps for the Philadelphia Eagles before his release from the club, will now pass through the waiver wire again and could be signed to the practice squad if unclaimed. Folk, meanwhile, is eligible to play for New England in tomorrow’s game against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.