Rookie wide receiver Mason Kinsey returns to the Patriots, at least for a free agency visit

Coming off their bye week, the New England Patriots were quite busy on Wednesday. Not only did their players return to Gillette Stadium for the first time since it was shut down on Sunday after Byron Cowart’s positive Coronavirus test, they also activated quarterback Cam Newton off the Reserve/Covid-19 list again, and signed defensive tackle Carl Davis off the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad.

On top of it all, the Patriots also found the time to bring a familiar face in for a free agency visit: wide receiver Mason Kinsey.

An undrafted rookie out of Division-III’s Berry College, where he caught 203 passes for 3,343 yards and 50 (!) touchdowns, Kinsey originally entered the league when the Tennessee Titans signed him as a free agent earlier this year. He was eventually waived as part of the team’s roster cutdowns in early September, though, and after going unclaimed through the waiver wire was invited to a workout with the Patriots.

New England ended up signing the 5-foot-10, 188-pound wideout to their practice squad on September 8. Three weeks later, however, the 22-year-old was shown the door again: when the Patriots added offensive lineman Jordan Roos to their developmental team, they decided to part ways with Kinsey to create an open spot.

Now, however, they have brought him back in for a workout. The Patriots currently have nine wide receivers under contract, with six on the active roster (Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Damiere Byrd, Gunner Olszewski, Jakobi Meyers, Matthew Slater) as well as three more on the practice squad (Isaiah Zuber, Devin Ross, Kristian Wilkerson). The expectation is that Kinsey would join the later group if offered a contract.

Such a move could happen at any time, and — at least theoretically — also make him eligible to be elevated to the game day roster when the Patriots take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday.