The Patriots signed former Cardinals and Rams outside linebacker Jesse Luketa on Thursday.
Luketa, 27, spent the second half of last season, including the playoffs, on the Rams’ practice squad. He entered the leauge through Arizona as a seventh-round pick out of Penn State in 2022. Over the next three seasons, Luketa appeared in 31 games for the Cardinals, logging 35 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and five QB hits.
Luketa suffered a season-ending thigh injury during his final game with Arizona, a win over the Patriots in Dec. 2024. He did not log any tackles last season.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder has factored on both defense and special teams over his brief career. In New England, he projects to be a depth player who fights for a roster spot in training camp this summer. Luketa joins Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson at outside linebacker.
Top pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson is set to hit the open market next week as a free agent.