Patriots Place Brian Schwenke On IR
The Patriots have placed center/guard Brian Schwenke on injured reserve, according to a club announcement. Schwenke missed the last two games with a foot injury, which is presumably the same issue that is ending his season prematurely. 
Schwenke, 27, spent his entire career with the Titans until he hooked on with the Pats over the summer. He missed the Pats’ initial cut, but was re-signed on Sept. 4. Despite having 30 games of experience as a starter, he dressed for only three contests this year and was on the field for four snaps in total.
Schwenke has been a backup for the past two seasons. Injuries essentially brought an end to his starting days, with the former 2013 fourth-round pick missing 23 games over his first three seasons. But, he suited up for 16 Titans regular-season games in each of the past two years.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/5/18
Here are Monday’s practice squad decisions:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Storm Norton
New England Patriots
- Signed: DE Ufomba Kamalu
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: De’Vante Bausby
Patriots Expected To Sign Albert McClellan
Cut to make room for Ty Montgomery on the Ravens’ roster, Albert McClellan may not be going back to Baltimore as he did previously this year.
The Patriots worked out McClellan on Monday and plan to sign the free agent defender, Jeff Zreibec of The Athletic reports (Twitter links.)
The Ravens cut McClellan, who’s been a key special teams presence and part-time starter at linebacker for most of this decade in Baltimore, out of training camp but re-signed him in mid-September. The Ravens wanted to bring back the 32-year-old veteran again, per Zreibec, but their injury situation didn’t give them room for such a move in their view.
It appears McClellan will return to New England after his workout. McClellan’s only played for the Ravens in an eight-year career. He played in 96 Baltimore games, making 24 starts, and saw action in all four playoff games en route to the franchise’s Super Bowl XLVII victory.
A team known somewhat for valuing special-teamers, the Patriots were also missing Nicholas Grigsby due to an illness in Week 9 and have rookie Ja’Whaun Bentley on IR.
Patriots Sign S Obi Melifonwu
The Patriots have signed safety Obi Melifonwu, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Melifonwu, a 2017 second-round pick of the Raiders, was waived/injured by Oakland in August. Recently, the Raiders reached an injury settlement with the UConn product, allowing him to sign with another club. 
The 24-year-old Melifonwu played sparingly during his rookie campaign, compiling seven tackles in five games (one start). He was placed on IR twice during his first season and didn’t do a whole lot while on the field. Melifonwu also worked out for the Cowboys, Chiefs, and Saints, but he’ll join up with the Patriots instead.
Melifonwu is known for his freakish athleticism and could be a real asset down the stretch if he stays healthy. After Eric Rowe landed on IR with a groin injury, the Patriots could use the additional depth and special teams help that Melifonwu can provide.
Coming off of a 31-17 win over the Packers, the Patriots are now 7-2. On Sunday, they’ll be a heavy favorite when they travel to Nashville to face the Titans.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/3/18
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Released with injury settlement: P Marquette King
Detroit Lions
- Activated from Reserve/PUP list: WR Andy Jones
- Waived: CB Cre’Von LeBlanc
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: T Storm Norton
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: C James Ferentz
Patriots Facing Another Injury Grievance
- Free agent offensive lineman Jason King filed an injury grievance against the Patriots, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets. King joins Kenny Britt and Malcolm Mitchell in filing injury grievances against the Pats. King’s grievance is for his $363K injury split salary, per Volin. The Patriots twice signed and twice cut King this offseason, the most recent transaction coming when the team cut him after the preseason slate.
Patriots Made Competitive Offer For Demaryius Thomas
- Before the Broncos traded wideout Demaryius Thomas to the Texans, both the Patriots and Eagles made competitive offers for the veteran, reports Mike Klis 9News in Denver (via Twitter). The Titans also made a late bid for the receiver. Denver ultimately sent Thomas and a seventh-round pick to Houston for a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick. New England had previously been connected to the 30-year-old. Philly ended up making a trade with the Lions for wideout Golden Tate, another wideout the Patriots were eyeing.
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Patriots Place CB Eric Rowe On IR
The Patriots are down a cornerback. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that New England has placed Eric Rowe on the injured reserve. The 26-year-old has been battling a groin injury throughout the season.
It’s a tough break for the impending free agent. The 2015 second-round was seemingly coming into his own this season, as he had compiled 10 tackles and one pass defended in four games (two starts). While he didn’t play enough snaps to earn a spot on Pro Football Focus‘ cornerback rankings, his score would have placed him right in the middle of the list.
The move leaves the Patriots relatively thin at cornerback for the time being. Starters Jason McCourty and Stephon Gilmore are both healthy, but the team is rostering three inexperienced cornerbacks behind the duo: Jonathan Jones, J.C. Jackson, and Keion Crossen.
Fortunately for the Patriots, they’ll soon be receiving some reinforcement. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss points out (via Twitter), rookie Duke Dawson is eligible to come off the injured reserve next week. Assuming the 2018 second-rounder is healthy, he could soon find himself as the team’s top reserve cornerback.
Texans Inquire On Patriots’ Phillip Dorsett
The Texans might not be done shopping for wide receivers. The Texans have called about Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Broncos Trade Demaryius Thomas To Texans]
Time is ticking on the trade deadline clock, and Howe hears that there hasn’t been much progress on the Dorsett trade front. But, as we saw last year, teams are often willing to up the ante as the 4pm ET/3pm CT deadline approaches.
The Texans acquired Demaryius Thomas from the Broncos on Tuesday, giving them an experienced receiver to carry the load in the wake of Will Fuller‘s season-ending injury. That deal alone could be a big difference maker for Houston, but the Texans are unwilling to take chances after injuries ruined their playoff aspirations last year.
Dorsett, 25, has just 20 catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns this season. The Patriots are on the lookout for wide receiver help themselves, and they could free up a roster spot for a new pass catcher by dealing the Miami product.
Patriots Interested In Golden Tate
In addition to the Patriots’ Demaryius Thomas interest ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, the team is also “particularly interested” in Lions wideout Golden Tate, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Tate’s in the final season of a five-year contract, and earlier Monday a report indicated a fourth-round pick may be sufficient to pry Tate from Detroit. Rapoport notes Thomas remains of interest to the Pats as well. The trade deadline is at 3pm Tuesday.
Around $3.7MM remains on Tate’s contract. The Patriots hold more than $5MM in cap space, additional room created by restructuring Jason McCourty‘s deal earlier this season.
The Lions, who beat the Patriots in September, aren’t necessarily surefire sellers. They’re 3-4 and one game out of an NFC wild card spot and still in the hunt for an NFC North title, although they certainly shouldn’t be considered the favorites in a stacked division. But with Marvin Jones and the emerging Kenny Golladay in the fold, it’s harder to see them keeping Tate beyond 2018. No substantial discussions about an extension between the Lions and Tate are known to have taken place.
Although, Tate said Monday talks have occurred, telling Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press he and the Lions are “closer” on an extension. Though, Tate has been one of the NFL’s most productive receivers during his Lions stay and would be a sought-after commodity on the market, perhaps commanding more than $12MM per year in free agency. He’s making less than $7MM per year on his Detroit deal. He does not expect to be traded.
“I don’t think so,” Tate said (via Birkett), on whether or not he believes he’ll be dealt. “I feel like I’m a huge part of this organization and this offense especially, so hopefully that’s not the case. But again, I do understand it’s a business and if it happens then, you know, depends on where they send me.”
The interest New England has in these veteran wideouts stems from the unreliability of Josh Gordon, Michael Giardi of NFL.com notes (video link). Gordon’s already run into moderate trouble with his new team; the Pats are set to bench him to start Monday night’s game because of tardiness. The team isn’t sure what it will get from Gordon, per Giardi, which is why the Pats are giving hard looks to other available vets.
Tate spends much of his time in the slot for the Lions. The Patriots have Julian Edelman back but could surely make their offense work with Tate in the fold. Tate has 44 receptions for 517 yards and three touchdowns this season. The Lions and Pats have a natural pipeline, with Bob Quinn having worked with Bill Belichick in New England.