Brian Hoyer’s third tour with the New England Patriots is underway.
The 34-year-old quarterback has agreed to terms with New England, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe reported Sunday.
Hoyer had been released the day prior by the Indianapolis Colts, with whom he’d signed a three-year, $12 million pact last September after his second Patriots exit. The Michigan State product first entered the league with New England as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and reconvened midway through the 2017 season.
Hoyer’s next stint places him on a post-Tom Brady QB depth chart that stands with 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham and Cody Kessler.
During his lone year with Indianapolis, Hoyer appeared in four games and made his 38th career start. He went 35-of-65 passing for 372 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions as the primary backup to fellow former Patriot Jacoby Brissett.
According to McBride, the Patriots have also signed 28-year-old outside linebacker Brandon Copeland.
Copeland has been a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions and New York Jets since going undrafted in 2013. The Penn alum, listed at 6-foot-3 and 263 pounds, has appeared in 60 career games and logged 14 starts.
Over his past two campaigns with the Jets, Copeland recorded 77 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four pass deflections and one forced fumble. In 2019, he played 30 percent of New York’s defensive snaps to go with 45 percent of the snaps on special teams.
Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts exited New England’s linebacker room as free agency opened on March 18.
Poll
How would you grade the signing of Brian Hoyer?
This poll is closed
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15%
A
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34%
B
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29%
C
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11%
D
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8%
F
Poll
How would you grade the signing of Brandon Copeland?
This poll is closed
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5%
A
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27%
B
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46%
C
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16%
D
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4%
F