FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed 10 players to the practice squad: OL Chris Barker, OL Blaine Clausell, TE Asante Cleveland, LB Xzavier Dickson, LB Darius Fleming, LB Brandon King, WR Nathan Palmer, DT Jimmy Staten, DB Daxton Swanson and WR Kenbrell Thompkins.
All of those players except Clausell, Palmer, Staten and Thompkins were with the team for at least part of the preseason. Thompkins spent the 2013 season and part of the 2014 season with New England before being claimed off waivers by Oakland, where he finished the year. Thompkins was released by Oakland on Sept. 1.
Clausell, 23, entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Baltimore on May 8, 2015, out of Mississippi State. The 6-foot-6, 339-pounder, was released by Baltimore on Sept. 4, 2015. He started in 38 games at left tackle during his college career.
Palmer, 26, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with San Francisco on May 4, 2012, out of Northern Illinois. The 5-foot-11, 198-pounder, spent three weeks on the 49ers practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster of Indianapolis. He played in five games with the Colts as a rookie. Palmer spent the 2013 season on the practice squad of Miami and Denver and spent one game on the Denver 53-man roster in 2014 before finishing the season on the Broncos' practice squad.
Staten, 24, originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick (172nd overall) by Seattle out of Middle Tennessee State in 2014. The 6-foot-3, 311-pounder, spent the majority of last season on the Seattle practice squad. He was released by Seattle on Aug. 17, 2015, and claimed off waivers by the New York Giants on Aug. 18. The Giants released him on Sept. 1, 2015.
