FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced that they have released LB Darius Fleming.Â
Fleming, 26, was originally signed by New England as a free agent on May 16, 2014, and rotated between the practice squad and the 53-man roster over the last two seasons. The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder, was drafted by San Francisco in the fifth round (165th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons on injured reserve with a knee injury and was released by the 49ers on May 12, 2014. Fleming played in five games and three postseason games for the Patriots in 2014. He was released by the Patriots on Sept. 5, 2015, signed to the practice squad on Sept. 7, 2015, before being signed to the 53-man roster on Nov. 28. Fleming played in six regular-season games and both postseason games last season, finishing with two total tackles and three special teams tackles in the regular season and one tackle on defense and one special teams tackle in the playoffs.Â
