Tag: Matt Sokol

Pittsburgh Steelers make several practice squad moves, including Ben Skowronek to IR

The Steelers shuffled the roster again this week with multiple moves.

Ben Skowronek, the former 2021 seventh-round draft pick out of Notre Dame, was elevated from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad according to the Tuesday NFL Transaction Report.  However, it has now been reported that he has been placed on Injured/Reserve and the Steelers have signed tight end Matt Sokol and wide receiver Jaray Jenkins.

Ben Skowronek was with the Los Angeles Rams from 2021 to 2023. After being traded to and released by the Houston Texans, Skowornek was signed to the Pittsburgh practice squad on August 29, 2024.  Matt Sokol started only one game in his career since 2019.  Jenkins, going undrafted in 2023, has signed with the Steelers practice squad previously, before being released on August 27th of this year.

The Steelers also placed linebacker Tyler Matakevich on IR this week and signed former Pittsburgh cornerback James Pierre to the practice squad.

Details on TE Matt Sokol’s contract with Steelers

The Steelers signed tight end Matt Sokol this week.

With tight end Rodney Williams still dealing with a shoulder injury in training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers added free-agent tight end Matt Sokol. According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the contract is one year and worth $985,000.

Sokol is a journeyman, having played on multiple teams since coming into the NFL in 2019. He spent two tenures with the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Sokol was most recently with the New England Patriots.

During the course of his career, Sokol has appeared in only eight games with one start. He has never registered an NFL reception. It is highly unlikely that Sokol makes the final roster.

Tight end is proving to be one of the deepest units on the Steelers roster. Pittsburgh has worked in two- and three-TE sets during training camp, and it seems the new Arthur Smith offense is going to use the position much more than we are used to in Pittsburgh.

If the Steelers keep four tight ends, look for Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward and MyCole Pruitt to be on the 53-man roster.

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Former Michigan State football TE Matt Sokol signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers

Former Michigan State football tight end Matt Sokol signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed another former Michigan State football tight end to join Connor Heyward in that room, and it unfortunately came at the expense of another former Spartan.

On Tuesday, the Steelers announced that they have signed Matt Sokol, and they also released defensive back Josiah Scott. Sokol spent last season with the New England Patriots, while Scott was with the Philadelphia Eagles last year and will now look for a new home.

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Patriots make multiple late moves before Bills game

The Patriots made a slew of moves on Saturday, including putting wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on injured reserve.

The New England Patriots made a slew of moves on Saturday, including putting veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on injured reserve.

It’s a tough end to an overall disappointing season for Smith-Schuster, who was initially brought in to be the replacement for Jakobi Meyers. Smith-Schuster had his best showing in his last outing as a Patriot, hauling in four passes for 90 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But he finished the season with only 29 total receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown. It was the worst season of Smith-Schuster’s NFL career, and it paled in comparison to what Meyers was able to do in his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Along with putting Smith-Schuster on IR, the Patriots also announced they had signed safety Joshuah Bledsoe to the 53-man roster, along with elevating tight end Matt Sokol and offensive lineman Andrew Stueber ahead of Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

Injuries have clearly taken a toll on the Patriots’ roster. Now, they’re being forced to look even further down the depth chart to make up for it on the road against one of the NFL’s hottest teams.

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Former Michigan State football TE Matt Sokol impressing in New England Patriots training camp

Former MSU TE Matt Sokol has impressed at Patriots camp this summer:

Matt Sokol was a consistent mainstay at the tight end position for Michigan State from 2015-2018, securing 31 catches for 348 yards and two touchdowns. Now, Sokol is trying to make a career in the NFL, and seems to be doing a good job of it.

Sokol has bounced around several practice squads over the last four seasons but may have found a home in New England for the Patriots. Sokol found himself on the Pats active roster several times last season and it seems like the Patriots are taking a liking to Sokol’s talents.

Patriots beat reporter Taylor Kyles said that Sokol looked like the Patriots top blocking tight end this summer, a skill set that could work Sokol into the playing rotation.

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Leftover notes from Day 3 of Patriots training camp practice

Leftover notes from Patriots’ third day of practice

It was another day of non-padded red zone work for the New England Patriots in Day 3 of training camp on Friday.

Coach Bill Belichick has stayed true to his word that the team would emphasize that particular area with more of an extended OTAs feel to the first week of practice.

So those waiting to see how the new-look Patriots react to real football situations with the pads on will have to wait until next week. However, there were still things of note to take away from the team’s third day of practice, which seemed productive overall for both the defense and offense.

Here are some leftover notes from the practice:

Reading the room: Evaluating tight ends on Patriots’ roster

It’ll be the Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki Show at tight end, but others could contribute at the position for the Patriots.

The New England Patriots have always loved their tight ends, and they doubled down at the position in 2021 by signing Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith at the same time.

Fast forward to 2023, and Smith is in Atlanta, while the Patriots brought in Mike Gesicki as a replacement.

Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien pioneered 12 personnel for the Patriots in his first stint with the team. He brought in Will Lawing, who has followed him in his previous stints, to coach the tight end position. There’s hope the two can work together to create a new gold standard at the position.

For now, here’s what things look like for the Patriots’ 2023 tight end group:

Patriots signed these 11 practice squad players to future contracts

The Patriots signed 11 practice squad players to future contracts.

Even though the season is over, Tuesday was still a busy day for the New England Patriots with the team signing 11 practice squad players to future contracts.

These might seem like no-big-deal signings to some, but as the Patriots learned in an injury-plagued 2022 season, there’s no such thing as a no-big-deal signing. They’ve had to lean heavily on their practice squad to help fill thinning positions on the roster throughout the year.

The team even went out and signed offensive tackle Conor McDermott off the New York Jets’ practice squad to help fill the void left after the injury to former first-round draft pick Isaiah Wynn.

So the ability to develop players that can potentially help the team when called upon is obviously a big deal.

With the future contracts, the names that didn’t make the list were veteran linebacker Jamie Collins, offensive lineman Bill Murray, wideout Lynn Bowden, kicker Tristan Vizcaino and quarterback Garrett Gilbert.

Here are the 11 players that made it.

Matt Sokol promoted to Patriots active roster

Matt Sokol will be suiting up for the Patriots against the Lions on Sunday

Former Michigan State tight end Matt Sokol has bounced around the NFL a little bit. Playing for the Los Angeles Chargers, and now getting an opportunity with the New England Patriots. One thing is clear, Sokol is developing and on the brink of getting an opportunity.

Amidst some injuries, Sokol has been elevated to the Patriots active roster for their game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Sokol had a good showing for the Patriots in the preseason, giving him the chance to make the active roster.

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WR Laquon Treadwell one of four practice players of the week for Patriots

The Patriots’ practice players of the week have been revealed

Former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Laquon Treadwell is making himself at home with the New England Patriots. Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the former first-round draft pick was practicing in a black jersey on Wednesday, which indicates he’s one of the team’s practice players of the week.

Treadwell was actually coming off a career-season with the Jaguars before signing to the Patriots’ practice squad in early September. He hauled in 33 receptions for 434 yards and one touchdown in a one-and-done year in Jacksonville.

It’s a good sign to see that he clearly hit the ground running when arriving in New England.

Tight end Matt Sokol, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon and defensive tackle Sam Roberts were also wearing the honorary black jerseys at practice.

Roberts flashed throughout the preseason and even did a fun interview with Patriots Wire’s Cam Garrity heading into the season.

Meanwhile, Cannon has a long history with the team as a three-time Super Bowl champion. He was signed to the practice squad following the Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Sokol, on the other hand, has an uphill battle with Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith on the main roster. It could take an injury for him to receive the call up to play in games, but the black jersey on his back says he’s prepared to do exactly that if given an opportunity.

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