The New England Patriots had a pair of defensive linemen on the town for exercises on Monday. Free brokers Jashon Cornell and Austin Edwards tried out with the staff, per the NFL transaction wire.

Cornell, 25, initially entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick of Ohio State in 2020. He started his profession with the Detroit Lions beneath then-head coach Matt Patricia however appeared in only one common season recreation for the group earlier than his launch earlier this yr.

Edwards, 25, additionally arrived within the league in 2020 however didn’t hear his title known as within the draft. The Ferris State product began out with the Atlanta Falcons, showing in a single recreation as a rookie, earlier than becoming a member of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs through their observe squad. He was launched in mid-August and has remained unsigned ever since.

The 2 free brokers each play on the inside of the defensive position — a place group that noticed some personnel change just lately: New England was pressured to ship Christian Barmore to injured reserve attributable to a nagging knee problem. He’ll miss three extra video games after already sitting out the Week 11 win over the New York Jets on Sunday.

With Barmore out, the Patriots defensive deal with depth is all the way down to Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Man, Daniel Ekuale, Carl Davis and Sam Roberts. The staff additionally has Jeremiah Pharms Jr. on the observe squad; fellow rookie LaBryan Ray is on the observe squad IR.

New England presently has two openings on its observe squad, which means the staff wouldn’t should make any follow-up strikes if it needed so as to add Cornell or Edwards. The Patriots even have one open spot on their 53-man roster after releasing operating again J.J. Taylor.