The New England Patriots struggled to get consistent production at quarterback during the 2020 season leading to one of the worst outcomes of the Bill Belichick era. However, the franchise addressed the position at this year’s NFL Draft by selecting Alabama breakout Mac Jones in the first round.
Although there’s plenty of optimism surround the team’s first round pick, Belichick hasn’t stopped adding quarterbacks to the roster. According to a latest report, the Patriots have added another signal caller.
Ian Rapoport broke the news on Wednesday that the Patriots claimed former Packers quarterback Jake Dolegala off of waivers. Dolegala just hit the wire earlier this week when reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers reported to camp in Green Bay.
Dolegala came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019. He made it through his entire first season on the roster, but didn’t last until the start of the 2020 season.
Doelgala already spent some time with the Patriots early on in his NFL career as he landed on the team’s practice squad during the 2020 campaign. He was waived by New England after they drafted Jones in April, but has now come back to fight for a spot in what’s shaping up to be a crowded quarterback room.
The #Patriots claimed QB Jake Dolegala off waivers from the #Packers, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 28, 2021
With the latest addition, the Patriots seem to have plenty of bodies at quarterback for the rest of training camp. Dolegala will become the fifth player at the position on the team’s current roster, joining Jones, Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham, and Brian Hoyer.
Stidham was absent from the Patriots first training camp practice and he was placed on the physically unable to perform list, which could’ve contributed to the decision to claim Dolegala. However, the former Bengals and Packers quarterback will probably be hard-pressed to find a spot on the active roster come September.
As Dolegala joins the team, Belichick will begin to ramp up the team’s preseason training camp. The Patriots have just over a month to get into game-ready shape and try to improve on last year’s lackluster performance.
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