FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced today that they have re-signed FB Glenn Gronkowski to the practice squad. He was released from the practice squad on Nov. 30, 2016.
In addition, the Patriots released TE Kennard Backman from the practice squad.
Gronkowski, 23, is now on his fourth stint on the New England practice squad. The 6-foot-3, 234-pounder, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Buffalo Bills on May 2, 2016, out of Kansas State. Gronkowski 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, 2016, and signed by the Patriots to the practice squad on Oct. 1. Gronkowski was released on Oct. 12 before being re-signed on Oct. 17 and released again on Nov. 7. He was re-signed to the practice squad on Nov. 16 before being released on Nov. 30.
Backman, 23, was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round (213th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. Last season, the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder, played in seven games as a reserve and did not accrue any statistics. Backman began the 2016 season with the Packers and was released prior to the start of the regular season. Backman was previously signed to the Patriots practice squad on Nov. 12, 2016, and released on Nov. 15, 2016.
