FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- With top tight end Rob Gronkowski not participating fully in practice, and top backup Dwayne Allen acknowledging some early growing pains with non-verbal communication with quarterback Tom Brady, the New England Patriots added a layer of depth at the position on Thursday by signing Will Tye to their practice squad.
Tye, who has been issued No. 44, was in the team's locker room Thursday afternoon.
A third-year player out of Stony Brook, he has more experience and production than most practice-squad players. Tye played in 29 games for the Giants from 2015-2016 and totaled 859 yards and four touchdowns.