FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots released fullback Kyle Eckel today. Eckel was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on Sept. 15.

Eckel, 26, has played in 12 career games, all with the Patriots last season. He was listed as a gameday inactive for the Patriots' game against the Miami Dolphins yesterday. The 5-foot-11-inch, 237-pound fullback has totaled 33 career rushes for 90 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for six yards. He has also totaled 12 career special teams tackles. The Navy product was originally signed by the Patriots on April 29, 2005 and was waived by New England on Sept. 3, 2005. He was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 4, 2005 and spent the entire 2005 season and part of the 2006 season on the reserve/military exempt list. He was reinstated on Nov. 2, 2006 and spent the remainder of the season on the Commissioner's Exempt Permission list. Eckel was released by the Dolphins on Sept. 1, 2007, and was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Sept. 3, 2007, before being signed to the Patriots active roster on Oct. 1, 2007. He was released by the Patriots on Aug. 26, 2008.