After stirring up the NFL world on Wednesday with their trade of Stephon Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers, the New England Patriots have now made their first move since letting Gilmore go.
Per Pro Football Talk, the Patriots are bringing back Jamie Collins.
Collins was a 2013 second-round pick in New England and spent three-plus seasons with the team before being traded to Cleveland. He returned to New England in 2019 as a free agent and then signed with the Lions as a free agent. The Lions released him last week after attempts to trade him proved to be fruitless.
Collins had 10 tackles and a fumble recovery in two games with the Lions this season. His familiarity with the defensive scheme in New England should help him make a quick transition back to life with the Patriots.
The move to sign Collins is largely flying under the radar after the Gilmore trade took place for the Patriots earlier on Wednesday. For New England, it's another defensive piece to add to the puzzle moving forward.
It's been a slow start to the year for New England as they sit at 1-3 after a heartbreaking loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4. They'll look to get back on the right track in Week 5 when they hit the road to take on the woeful Houston Texans.