Patriots add wide receiver Jaylen Smith, cornerback D.J. Daniel to practice squad

The New England Patriots have signed wide receiver Jaylen Smith and cornerback D.J. Daniel to the practice squad, as first reported Monday by Mike Reiss of ESPN.

Both visited for workouts last week.

Smith, 24, originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and finished his rookie season on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad. A Louisville product, the 6-foot-2, 227-pound wideout totaled 152 receptions for 2,505 yards and 15 touchdowns across 48 career games as a Cardinal. Most recently, Smith spent last summer with the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.

Daniel, 23, finished his collegiate career at Georgia after transferring from Georgia Military College. He recorded 51 combined tackles and nine pass deflections through 21 games and 11 starts with the Bulldogs. The 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl participant would be voted the top cornerback on the American team in Mobile before entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars last May. Daniel, listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, was waived in August after one preseason appearance.

New England concluded the regular season with wide receivers Kristian Wilkerson and Tre Nixon on the practice squad along with defensive backs D’Angelo Ross, Sean Davis and De’Vante Bausby. The organization stood multiple open spots after rookie offensive lineman Will Sherman was moved to the Covid-19 reserve list.

The Buffalo Bills host next Saturday’s 8:15 p.m. ET wild-card round at Highmark Stadium.