The New England Patriots released defensive tackle Frank Herron on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Field Yates, in order to accommodate the signing of free agent linebacker Jamie Collins.

Herron was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent last year. He played college football at Louisiana State University, seeing action during all four of his seasons with the Tigers on the team's stacked defensive line.

The 6-foot-4, 312-pounder was released by New England at the conclusion of last year's training camp, subsequently signing a deal with the Seattle Seahawks. He lasted just over a week with Seattle before being waived, though, then was signed to the Patriots' practice squad in early October. Herron spent the remainder of the 2018 season on New England's practice squad, earning a Super Bowl ring and signing a futures contract with the team in February.

The Patriots officially signed Collins on Thursday. The 2013 second-round pick spent the first three-and-a-half seasons of his career in New England, quickly developing into one of the league's most versatile linebackers. After being named Second Team All-Pro in 2015, though, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns midway through the 2016 season in exchange for a future third-round pick.

Despite signing a four-year, $50 million contract shortly after his debut campaign with the Browns came to a close, Collins never quite got comfortable in Cleveland. He started all 16 games last season, finishing with 104 tackles and four sacks, but failed to reach the esteemed level of play that was commonplace for him with the Patriots.

The Browns released Collins in early March, a week before the start of free agency.