Patriots To Work Out Veteran Receiver Houshmandzadeh, Safeties Sharper And Hill
BOSTON (CBS) – In search of more depth, the New England Patriots will work out three veterans this week according to reports.
Veteran receiver TJ Houshmandazadeh and safeties Darren Sharper and Renaldo Hill will all be in Foxboro for workouts.
Houshmandzadeh is expected to meet with the team in Foxboro on Monday. The 10-year veteran played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2010. He recorded a career-low 30 receptions with the Ravens after being released by the Seattle Seahawks before the season began. He spent seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, paired up with new Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco.
Over his career, Houshmandzadeh has 616 receptions for 7,091 yards and 43 touchdowns. He will turn 34 in September.
Although the Patriots have 11 receivers in camp, the visit is likely to help the Patriots construct an emergency list for the regular season. Recent injuries to Julien Edelman, Taylor Price and Brandon Tate have made their depth at receiver a bit thin.
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The visit was first reported by Ian Rappaport of the Boston Herald.
With Sharper and Hill, the Patriots could shore up an already thin depth chart at the safety position. A 14-year veteran, Sharper has 63 interceptions and has been named to the Pro Bowl five times. He played the previous two seasons in New Orleans, but was sidelined for eight games in 2010 with a knee injury.
Sharper is expected in town on Monday.
Hill, a 10-year NFL vet, had 63 tackles and two interceptions for the Denver Broncos in 2010. He has spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.
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Both could help the Patriots, who are thin at safety after the release of Brandon McGowan and Ross Ventrone last week. Veteran James Sanders has also missed practice recently due to injury. Either veteran could step in for the Patriots, with Brandon Meriweather and Patrick Chung the only healthy players at the position.
The visits were first reported by Sports XChange on Sunday.
