FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed LB Trevor Bates to the practice squad and released FB Glenn Gronkowski from the practice squad.
Bates, 23, originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick (239th overall) by the Indianapolis Colts out of Maine in the 2016 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 247-pounder, began the year on the Indianapolis practice squad. He was signed to the 53-man roster on Oct. 5 and played in his first NFL game vs. Chicago on Oct. 9 before being released by Indianapolis on Oct. 13.
Gronkowski, 23, had two stints on the New England practice squad. He was signed by the Patriots to the practice squad on Oct. 1, 2016 and released don Oct. 12 before being re-signed on Oct. 17 Gronkowski 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.
