FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed TE Greg Scruggs to the 53-man roster and FB Glenn Gronkowski to the practice squad. To make room for Scruggs and Gronkowski, the team released DL John Hughes III from the 53-man roster and WR Da'Ron Brown from the practice squad.
Scruggs, 26, was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round (232nd overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Louisville. Scruggs began his career as a defensive lineman before transitioning to tight end last offseason. Over three seasons with Seattle, Scruggs appeared in 14 games and accumulated eight tackles, two sacks and one pass defensed. He missed the entire 2013 season due to injury. Scruggs was released by Seattle on Aug. 31, 2015, and signed by Chicago on Dec. 30, 2015. He appeared in one game and posted three tackles and a sack. Scruggs played in three games for Chicago this season and did not accrue any statistics. He was released on Sept. 27.
Gronkowski, 23, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Buffalo Bills on May 2, 2016, out of Kansas State. The 6-foot-3, 234-pounder, made the Buffalo 53-man roster and played in the season opener at Baltimore, and did not record any statistics. He was released by Buffalo on Sept. 12. Gronkowski played fullback at Kansas State for three years and was named First Team All-Big 12 in 2014, as well as First Team Academic All-Big 12 from 2013-15.
Hughes, 27, originally entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick (87th overall) of the Cleveland Browns out of Cincinnati in the 2012 NFL Draft. Hughes played in the 2016 season opener for Cleveland in a reserve role before being released on Sept. 20 and signing with the Patriots on Sept. 27. The 6-foot-2, 320-pounder, has played in 53 NFL games with 10 starts and has 123 total tackles, 5½ sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Brown, 25, originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick (233rd overall) of the Kansas City Chiefs out of Northern Illinois in the 2015 NFL Draft. The 6-foot, 199-pounder, spent his rookie season on the Kansas City practice squad. He was released by Kansas City on Sept. 3, 2016 and signed with the Patriots on Sept. 27.
