FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots hosted veteran kicker Nick Folk on a visit Saturday, according to a league source and multiple reports, and could potentially sign him if he tests a physical test and coronavirus.
Folk, 35, would possibly add a second kicker to the roster after the Patriots selected Marshall’s Justin Rohrwasser in the fifth round of the draft.
Folk stepped up in seven games for the Patriots last season, when the team was forced to look for a replacement for Stephen Gostkowski, who had a hip injury that landed him on an injured reserve. Folk was 16-of-19 on field goals and 13-of-13 on extra points.
His potential return to New England comes a week in training camp, where Rohrwasser has barely kicked a kick out of practices attended by reporters. Rohrwasser was 3-of-5 on field goals at the end of a practice Monday, but has since ridden the exercise bike for the most part, which may be an indication that he is managing an unknown injury.
Asked about Rohrwasser’s improvement and assimilation to the NFL on Friday, coach Bill Belichick was vague, saying, “Everyone is making progress.”
The Patriots have two open roster spots, so adding Folk would not require a corresponding transaction.
In addition to Folk’s visit, the Patriots on Saturday officially signed free agent nose tackle Xavier Williams, who has appeared in 44 career games with the Arizona Cardinals (2015-2017) and Kansas City Chiefs (2018-) over the past five seasons. 2019). The team has been looking for more depth on the position with signing free agent Beau Allen – a projected starter – after failing to train in training camp.
The Patriots also signed Marine defensive end Paul Quessenberry, who they plan to play on tight end. Quessenberry has not played football since his time with the Navy in 2014; he graduated in 2015 and became an infantry officer in the Marines.
The team let defensive tackle Darius Kilgo and tight end Alex Ellis out.
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