Ex-Saint Meredith joins mix at WR

FOXBORO — The Patriots aren’t done adding to their wide receiving corps.

The club is signing former Bears and Saints wideout Cameron Meredith, a source confirmed yesterday.

Meredith was released by the Saints earlier this week.

At one point in his career, Meredith appeared to be a budding star. He erupted for 888 yards in 14 games in his second NFL season with the Bears. The 6-foot-3 Meredith emerged as a versatile receiver who could beat defenses from the perimeter, as well as from the slot position. The Patriots got an upclose look at Meredith in the summer of 2016, when his Bears visited Foxboro for joint practices. Meredith established himself as the team’s No. 2 receiver in the 2016 regular season.

A gruesome knee injury suffered in the 2017 preseason has derailed his progress, though.

Meredith missed the entire 2017 season. As a restricted free agent the following spring, Meredith signed an offer sheet with the Saints. The Bears declined to match.

Still dealing with complications from the knee injury, Meredith appeared in only six games with New Orleans.

The Patriots bring in Meredith with the hope that they can help him rehabilitate and achieve his previous form.

He joins Demaryius Thomas (on the PUP list as a recovers from an Achilles tear) and Josh Gordon (suspended by the NFL) as talented wide receivers who could end up contributing in 2019.

For now, the Patriots are rolling with Julian Edelman (out of practice due to a broken thumb), Phillip Dorsett, rookie N’Keal Harry, Maurice Harris, Braxton Berrios, and undrafted rookie Jakobi Meyers as their top receivers.