The game of "Musical Chairs: Free-agent Edge Rusher Edition" continues to play out ahead of the first full week of preseason games.
The New England Patriots are signing pass rusher Trey Flowers, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday morning, per a source informed of the situation. The team has since announced the news and later placed Flowers on the physically unable to perform list, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported. Flowers can be activated at anytime.
The soon-to-be 30-year-old worked out for the Pats on Monday.
It's a reunion for Flowers in Foxborough, a former fourth-round pick by the Patriots in 2015.
Flowers won two Super Bowls in New England before signing a big-money contract in Detroit in 2019 -- joining former Pats DC Matt Patricia, the Lions coach at the time. The five-year, $90 million pact didn't work out for Detroit, who cut Flowers after three injury-riddled seasons in which he totaled 10.5 sacks (including 1.5 in seven games in 2021).
Flowers appeared in four games for Miami in 2022 before going on injured reserve due to a foot injury.
Now Flowers returns to New England, where he enjoyed his best seasons. The veteran should provide depth to the Pats' defensive line ahead of preseason action kicking off against Houston on Thursday.
Flowers is the latest veteran free-agent edge rusher to find a landing spot, joining Justin Houston (Panthers) and Yannick Ngakoue (Bears).