Patriots reportedly re-sign undrafted rookie quarterback Brian Lewerke

Over the weekend, the New England Patriots parted ways with 10 players in order to get their roster from 90 to the 80-man limit introduced as part of the NFL-NFLPA Coronavirus deal. One of the players who was let go was undrafted rookie quarterback Brian Lewerke. Four days after his release, Lewerke is now reportedly on his way back to New England.

According to Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal, Lewerke was re-signed by the Patriots today. The 23-year-old will therefore fill one of the five roster spots the team had open after a series of player opt-outs earlier this week, and add another layer of depth to a quarterback room that also consists of Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.

Lewerke’s NFL career is still in its infancy after he joined the Patriots as a rookie free agent earlier this offseason, but he still enters the pro level with considerable experience as a starting quarterback: he started 38 of the 41 games he appeared in during his four non-redshirt years at Michigan State, and ended his college career as the school’s all-time leader in total offense with a combined 9,548 yards — 8,293 passing plus a 1,255 rushing.

With Lewerke re-signed and recently released rookie wide receiver Will Hastings being brought back earlier this week as well, the Patriots now have 76 of their 80 roster spots filled. The team also has $25 million in salary cap space available, per Miguel Benzan.