FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed T Kellen Diesch (pronounced – deesh) and S A.J. Thomas. To make room on the roster, the Patriots released RB Deshaun Fenwick and T Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Diesch, 26, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Miami Dolphins on May 13, 2022 out of Arizona State. The 6-foot-7, 300-pounder, was released by Miami at the end of training camp and spent the 2022 season on the Chicago Bears practice squad and the 2023 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad. After being released by Pittsburgh on May 14, 2024, he was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns but was released by the Browns on May 16, 2024. Diesch began his college career at Texas A&M before transferring to Arizona State as a graduate transfer for his final two seasons.
Thomas, 24, spent the 2024 spring season with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL, seeing action in 12 games and finishing with 23 total tackles and 3 interceptions. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Chicago Bears out of Western Michigan in 2022. He began his rookie year on the practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster on Nov. 29 and seeing action in five games. Thomas started the 2023 season on the Chicago practice and was elevated for one game before being released on Oct. 29.
Fenwick, 24, was signed by New England as a rookie free agent out of Oregon State on May 10, 2024. The 6-foot-1, 223-pounder, played his first three college seasons at South Carolina before transferring to Oregon State for three more seasons. Overall, he played in 50 collegiate games and had 385 rushing attempts for 2,118 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Wheatley, 27, was acquired by New England in a trade with Cleveland in exchange for RB Pierre Strong on August 27, 2023. The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder, saw action in two games last season on special teams before finishing the year on injured reserve. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Chicago out of Stony Brook in 2021 and spent time on the practice squads with Chicago (2021) and Cleveland (2022).
