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By Valentina Martinez
Contributing Sports Writer
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The New England Patriots claimed pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue Friday. The linebacker was formerly with the Baltimore Ravens but was waived by the team yesterday.
More News: Dolphins' Tyreek Hill in Danger of Missing Week 10
The Ravens hoped to bring him back to their practice squad if he cleared waivers, but New England snagged him. Before the trade deadline, the Ravens could've released Ngakoue from the 53-man roster and immediately signed him to the practice squad since he's a veteran.
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New England will inherit the remaining $656,667 of the linebacker's salary, but will also get a much-needed boost to the defense.
Ngakoue, 29, has played in 128 games throughout his career. He's amassed 228 total tackles, 70.5 sacks, and 21 forced fumbles. The pass-rusher was drafted in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2016 NFL draft.
This season, Ngakoue is off to a slow start, playing just 87 defensive snaps and recording 1.5 sacks. He appeared in five games for Baltimore this season.
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New England will face the Chicago Bears in Week 10, which means Ngakoue will get to face his former team in his debut for the Patriots. In the windy city, Ngakoue recorded 22 tackles and four sacks in 13 games for the Bears.
Ngakoue has also spent time with the Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, and the Indianapolis Colts. In each of his four seasons with Jacksonville, the linebacker posted at least eight sacks.
He was a Pro Bowler in 2017 following a season where he recorded a career-best 12 sacks. Ngakoue also posted a league-leading six forced fumbles in 2017. The Jaguars also reached the AFC Championship game that year.
The Patriots currently have a record of 2-7, but the addition of Ngakoue should help the defense. The veteran could have a stronger performance in New England with a bigger role for his new team.
Patriot head coach Jerod Mayo explained the frustrations of the 2024 season thus far. Mayo attributed the biggest challenge of the year to getting a consistent group together each week.
"The frustrating part for me has just been the guys in and out of the lineup," Mayo said via the team transcript. "Whether it's through injury or whether it's through performance, it's just been a bunch of different things. That's part of football, and that's part of me learning as a head coach. Those things are going to happen. Some years it's worse than others. This year, it's just been hard to get the same group out there every week."
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