Former Pats catch on with Saints
The New Orleans Saints receiving corps has taken on a Patriots’ hue this summer.
Veteran receivers Brandon Tate and Michael Floyd joined practice yesterday, bolstering a group thinned by injuries and adding to the mix of players competing in the return game.
New Orleans also has activated veteran tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, who began training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Tate was drafted by the Pats in 2009, while Floyd (2016) and Hoomanawanui (2014) both won Super Bowl rings with the team.
The 30-year-old Tate played in 13 games for Buffalo last season, when his most significant contributions came in the return game. He returned 28 kickoffs for 548 yards and 20 punts for 193 yards.
“He had a good workout. We’re familiar with the player, just with his experience,” coach Sean Payton said of Tate, who was with the Pats from 2009-10 and also has played for Cincinnati during his nine-year career. “We’ll have a chance to take a look at him both in the punt and kick return game, and then also at receiver.”
Cowboy reinstated
The Dallas Cowboys have activated defensive end Randy Gregory off the non-football injury list after a year away from football on a substance-abuse suspension.
Gregory has played in just two of the past 32 regular-season games because of multiple suspensions. Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated him not long before the Cowboys reported to training camp in California.
The former Nebraska standout participated in a walkthrough practice for the first time yesterday. The 25-year-old was banned for the first four games of 2016 before a 10-game suspension was announced while he served the first penalty. Gregory was suspended indefinitely after getting his first career sack in the final game of the 2016 regular season.
Wentz goes easy
Carson Wentz is trusting the process.
The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback didn’t participate in 11-on-11 drills for the third straight practice for precautionary reasons after taking part the first three days.
“Just have to listen to what the doctors and coaches are saying. Just trust that plan,” Wentz said . . . .
The Seattle Seahawks added depth to their offensive line by signing veteran guard J.R. Sweezy.
Sweezy rose to prominence during his first four seasons in the league playing for the Seahawks. He signed with Tampa Bay prior to the 2016 season but then missed the entire year with a back injury. He started 14 games in 2017 but finished on injured reserve with a leg injury and was released by the Bucs in June.
Colts OL retires
Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Jack Mewhort unexpectedly announced his retirement. Mewhort’s decision was made public following a morning practice at training camp.
His once promising career got derailed by a series of injuries that kept him out of 11 of the Colts’ last 20 games. He finished each of the last two seasons on injured reserve . . . .
New York Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue has pleaded guilty to DWI charges in connection with a wrong-way crash in the Lincoln Tunnel in February.