NFL rumors: Yannick Ngakoue claimed by Patriots after being waived by Ravens | News, results, highlights, stats and rumours

The New England Patriots reportedly added some pass-rushing help ahead of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

The NFL Network Ian Rapoport reported Friday that the AFC East team claimed Yannick Ngakoue.

Ngakoue was available because the Baltimore Ravens announced On Thursday, they released him to make room on the 53-man roster to activate running back Keaton Mitchell. Ngakoue appeared in five games for the Ravens this season.

It’s notable that New England added a pass rusher prior to the game against the Bears because that’s the team he played for last season.

He posted 22 tackles and four sacks in 13 games for Chicago, a far cry from some of the earlier production in his career as he suited up for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts.

Ngakoue was a third-round pick of the Jaguars in the 2016 NFL draft and threw at least eight sacks in each of his four seasons with the team. He was a Pro Bowler in 2017 with a career-best 12 sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles for a Jacksonville team that reached the AFC Championship Game.

He split the 2020 season with the Vikings and Ravens before playing for the Raiders in 2021 and the Colts in 2022. Although he has been a journeyman, he never finished with fewer than eight sacks in a season until he was with Chicago in 2023.

The veteran also hasn’t been much of a defensive force this season, with five tackles and 1.5 sacks in his five games with Baltimore.

Perhaps a change of scenery and the potential for a bigger role on a struggling New England team that is 2-7 will help him rediscover his old form. He’s still only 29 years old and figures to have some productive seasons left.

This move gives him an opportunity to make a positive impression ahead of the offseason, when he may seek his next contract.