Jonathan Freeny - Pro Football Rumors

With Rudock out of the picture, Matt Cassel will serve as the backup to quarterback Matthew Stafford. Freeny conceivably could have made the roster based on his familiarity with head coach Matt Patricia, but the Lions went in another direction.

Lions Sign LB Jonathan Freeny

March 26th, 2018 at 9:29am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions have signed free agent linebacker Jonathan Freeny, the club announced today.

Freeny, 28, should offer immediate scheme familiarity for the Lions, as he worked under new Detroit head coach Matt Patricia when both were employed by the Patriots from 2015-16. The Lions have already added several free agent linebackers this offseason, as signees Devon Kennard and Christian Jones will join a depth chart that also includes 2017 first-rounder Jarrad Davis, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Nick Bellore, and others.

Freeny saw action for the Patriots, Saints, and Ravens last season, and also enjoyed a brief non-playing stint on the Jaguars’ roster. While he’s become primarily a special-teamer, Freeny started seven games for New England as recently as 2015, so while he’ll likely begin his Lions tenure as a reserve, he has the upside to become a full-time fixture on the Detroit defense.

Before inking a deal with the Lions, Freeny also drew interest from New Orleans, which was open to re-signing the former undrafted free agent.

Lions, Saints In On LB Jonathan Freeny

March 16th, 2018 at 1:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent linebacker Jonathan Freeny will meet with the Lions on Friday, according to Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayune (on Twitter). Meanwhile, a return to the Saints could still be in the cards.

Freeny joined the Saints in December and worked his way into the linebacker rotation. He appeared in two regular season games as well as both of New Orleans’ playoff contests. In the postseason, he tallied five tackles and one sack (pictured).

In other Lions news, the team re-signed running back Zach Zenner on Friday and has a meeting scheduled with running back Mike Davis.

Saints Claim LB Jonathan Freeny

December 14th, 2017 at 3:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have claimed linebacker Jonathan Freeny off of waivers from the Patriots, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. To make room, cornerback Sterling Moore has been released.

The Patriots released Freeny on Wednesday as part of a series of roster moves that included the signing of Kenny Britt and defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois. His 2017 return to New England lasted only one week. Freeny will provide the Saints with some depth in their injury-ravaged front seven. Recently, Alex Okafor became the latest addition to the reserve list, joining Nathan Stupar, Alex Anzalone, Mitchell Loewen, and Nick Fairley.

Moore was cut by the Saints in October but circled back to the team in November. All in all, he appeared in five games for New Orleans with five tackles, two passes defensed, and one forced fumble. If he clears waivers, he’ll be free to sign with any team on Friday.

Patriots Cut Jonathan Freeny

December 13th, 2017 at 10:30am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots are releasing linebacker/defensive end Jonathan Freeny, as first reported by Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal (Twitter link). The move will create room for the team to formally sign Freeny’s former Rutgers teammate Kenny Britt.

Freeny, 28, did his most notable NFL work with the Patriots in 2015 and 2016. His latest stint in New England lasted only a week, however.

Because the trade deadline has come and gone, Freeny will hit the waiver wire. If he is not claimed by a team in the next 24 hours, he will be free to sign with any club of his choosing.

In ’15 and ’16, Freeney has recorded 60 tackles and one sack for the Patriots. He appeared in only 18 games during that span due to injury.

Patriots Sign LB Jonathan Freeny

December 6th, 2017 at 12:17pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have signed Jonathan Freeny, a source tells Doug Kyed of NESN (on Twitter). Details of the deal are not known, but it is most likely a one-year pact for the prorated portion of the minimum salary.

The 28-year-old linebacker did his best work with the Patriots in 2015 and 2016, though the ’16 season was mostly lost due to injury. He started eleven games in that span, but he was not able to make the Pats’ initial 53-man cut in September. After stints with the Ravens and Jaguars – the latter lasting less than a week – he’s back in New England.

Freeney will provide some much needed depth at linebacker. It’s not clear whether Trevor Reilly will be able to suit up this week after suffering a concussion. Meanwhile, Dont’a Hightower, Harvey Langi, Shea McClellin, and Derek Rivers are all shelved.

The six-year NFL veteran amassed 60 tackles and one sack for the Patriots over the last two years.

NFL Workout Updates: 11/14/17

November 14th, 2017 at 8:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:

Chicago Bears

QB Taylor Heinicke; WRs Demarcus Ayers, Canaan Severin, Paul Turner; G Darrell Greene (link)

Cincinnati Bengals

T Laurence Gibson (link)

Detroit Lions

DE Armonty Bryant; LB Max Valles; S Duke Ihenacho (link)

Houston Texans

TEs Brandon Barnes, Gabe Holmes (link)

Indianapolis Colts

QB Tyler Ferguson; RBs Ka’Deem Carey, Dare Ogunbowale, Juwan Thompson; WRs Dres Anderson, Isaac Fruechte, Alonzo Moore, Tim Patrick (link)

Jacksonville Jaguars

LSs Ryan DiSalvo, Andrew East, Drew Ferris (link)

New Orleans Saints

LBs Audie Cole, Jonathan Freeny, Josh Mauga, Sio Moore, Spencer Paysinger (link)

New York Giants

Ks Andrew Franks, Jason Myers (link)

Philadelphia Eagles

OL Jeremiah Poutasi (link)

San Francisco 49ers

G Jake Eldrenkamp; C Anthony Fabiano (link)

Seattle Seahawks

LBs Boseko Lokombo, Jason Thompson (link)

Washington Redskins

S Lorenzo Jerome (link)

Jaguars Release Jonathan Freeny

October 28th, 2017 at 1:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Marcell Dareus passed his Jaguars physical, making the Bills-Jags trade official, per Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter). In sending only a draft pick Buffalo’s way, Jacksonville needed to clear a roster spot to make room for the defensive tackle.

The Jags did so by cutting Jonathan Freeny, per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (on Twitter). Freeny spent less than a week with the Jaguars, signing with the team earlier this week after playing three games with the Ravens this season.

The 28-year-old linebacker’s most known for being an 11-game starter with the Patriots from 2015-16, collecting a ring last season. The Ravens cut Freeny last week, and the sixth-year defender worked out for the Jags on Monday.

Freeny is not subject to waivers since he’s a vested veteran. Although, had the Jaguars made this move after the trade deadline in three days, Freeny would have been subject to waivers.

Jags executive VP Tom Coughlin described Dareus as an experienced player who’s been “productive throughout his career” and a talent who will help the Jags “immediately” (Twitter link).