Patriots Sign Two, Cut Two, Reportedly Plan To Add Kicker Competition

The New England Patriots’ front office was busy Saturday as players were given the day off.

The Patriots signed defensive tackle Xavier Williams and tight end Paul Quessenberry, cut defensive tackle Darius Kilgo and tight end Alex Ellis and hosted kicker Nick Folk, according to the NFL transaction wire.

The Patriots plan to sign Folk on Monday, a source told NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Folk will provide competition for 2020 fifth-round pick Justin Rohrwasser.

Folk kicked for New England last season after longtime Patriot Stephen Gostkowski was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury. The Patriots cut Gostkowski this offseason, and he remains unsigned.

Folk went 14-of-17 on field goals and 12-of-12 on extra points in two stints with the Patriots last season, one before and one after undergoing an appendicitis. He was the most successful of three kickers who filled in for Gostkowski in 2019 along with Mike Nugent and Kai Forbath.

Rohrwasser has only kicked in front of the media once in training camp practice, going 3-of-5. The rookie is dealing with an injury, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe.

The Patriots hosted Williams and Quesenberry on workouts earlier this week. Kilgo and Ellis signed before training camp began Monday.

Quessenberry is a fascinating story. He last played football in 2014 as a defensive end at Navy before joining the Marines. He’s now making his return to the sport on the offensive side of the ball.

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