Patriots claim quarterback Jake Dolegala off waivers from Packers

With Jarrett Stidham opening training camp on physically unable to perform, the New England Patriots have added a familiar face to the quarterback room.

The Patriots claimed Jake Dolegala off waivers from the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, as NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported.

Dolegala, 24, had spent the majority of 2020 on New England’s practice squad and was retained on a futures contract in January. The 6-foot-7, 242-pound product of Central Connecticut State would later be waived following the April arrival of rookie Mac Jones in the first round of the NFL draft.

Originally entering the league with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Dolegala signed with Green Bay in June after a three-day tryout at mandatory minicamp. He will now rejoin a New England depth chart that stands at five with incumbent starter Cam Newton, veteran Brian Hoyer and the aforementioned Jones and Stidham.

Stidham, a source told Jeff Howe of The Athletic, isn’t expected to be activated off the PUP list in the “near future.”

The Patriots return to the practice fields at 9:45 a.m. ET Thursday.