FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced today that they have re-signed OL Brian Schwenke to the 53-man roster and released WR Amara Darboh from the 53-man roster.
In addition, the Patriots signed WR Jace Billingsley and T Eric Smith to the practice squad.
Schwenke, 27, was signed by New England as a free agent on July 31, 2018 and released on Sept. 1, 2018. The 6-foot-3, 318-pounder is a veteran of five NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Schwenke originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick (107th overall) by Tennessee out of California in the 2013 NFL Draft. He was signed by Indianapolis as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2017 but was released at the end of training camp and re-signed by Tennessee on Sept. 4, 2017. Schwenke has played in 57 NFL games with 30 starts, including 25 starts at center and five at left guard. He also played in two postseason games in 2017 for the Titans. He made his first 25 starts at center and then made five starts over the last two seasons at left guard. In 2017, Schwenke played in 16 games with two starts at left guard and then saw action as a reserve in the postseason.
Darboh, 24, was claimed off waivers from Seattle by New England on Sept. 2, 2018. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder originally entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick (106th overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft by Seattle out of Michigan. Darboh appeared as a reserve in all 16 games last year and totaled eight receptions for 71 yards. He finished his career at Michigan starting 28-of-49 games played with 151 receptions, 2,062 yards and 14 touchdowns. As fifth-year senior, he was an All-Big Ten second team and a Biletnikoff Award candidate, playing in all 13 games. He led team with 57 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns.
Billingsley, 25, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Detroit out of Eastern Oregon on May 6, 2016. The 5-foot-9, 189-pounder has spent time on the Lions practice squad and 53-man roster in his first two seasons and appeared in two games in 2017. He did not accrue any statistics. Billingsley was released Detroit on Sept. 1, 2018.
Smith, 23, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Miami out of Virginia on May 5, 2017. The 6-foot-4, 308-pounder made the Dolphins 53-man roster coming out of training camp last year and did not appear in any games. Smith was inactive for the first three games of the year before being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 3. He was activated from injured reserve on Dec. 20 and was inactive for the final two games of the season. Smith was released by the Dolphins on Sept. 1, 2018.
