FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed WR Shaquelle Evans to the practice squad and released FB Glenn Gronkowski from the practice squad.
Evans, 25, originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick (115th overall) of the New York Jets out of UCLA in the 2014 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 203-pounder, spent his rookie season on injured reserve. He was released by the Jets at the end of training camp in 2015 and spent the final 14 weeks of the season on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. Evans was released by Jacksonville on Sept. 3, 2016, and spent one day on the practice squad before being released on Sept. 6, 2016.Â
Gronkowski, 23, was signed by the Patriots to the practice squad on Oct. 1, 2016. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Buffalo Bills on May 2, 2016, out of Kansas State. The 6-foot-3, 234-pounder, made the Buffalo 53-man roster and played in the season opener at Baltimore, and did not record any statistics. He was released by Buffalo on Sept. 12.