2021 NFL free agency: Patriots sign veteran linebacker, special teamer LaRoy Reynolds

Despite their salary cap space getting smaller and smaller, the New England Patriots are not yet done bolstering their roster. On Wednesday alone they signed two more players. After re-signing running back James White via a one-year deal, the Patriots also added some experience to their special teams group.

As he announced on social media, career special teamer LaRoy Reynolds has signed a deal in New England. Details of the pact are not known at this point in time.

Reynolds originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2013. While he has seen only marginal playing time at his listed position of linebacker ever since, the Virginia product made a name for himself in the kicking game: through the years, special teams has been his way onto the field and now seven different teams.

Starting his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-15), Reynolds also spent time in Chicago (2015), Atlanta (2016-17; 2020), Philadelphia (2018), San Francisco (2019) and Cincinnati (2019). Along the way he appeared in a combined 122 regular season and playoff contests, while playing roughly four special teams snaps for every defensive snap.

Now arriving in New England, Reynolds is again expected to compete for a role in the game’s third phase. His ability to play on all four kicking game units — punt and kickoff return and coverage — should help him do that, despite the Patriots already having fielded the best special teams group in football last season.