The Patriots reportedly hosted linebacker Jonathan Casillas and tight end Asante Cleveland on free-agent visits in Foxboro on Thursday. Casillas was on the team that won Super Bowl XLIX, while Cleveland was with the Pats for a time in 2015.
The Patriots hosted a reunion tour on Thursday.
According to multiple reports, linebacker Jonathan Casillas, who was a member of the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX championship team, paid a call on Gillette Stadium. Tight end Asante Cleveland, who was with them in 2015, made a stop in Foxboro as well.
Both players are free agents.
Acquired in a trade deadline-beating deal with Tampa Bay in October of 2014, Casillas was one-and-done in New England, registering 21 tackles and forcing a fumble on defense and five stops on special teams while appearing in eight regular-season games (starting three) and one tackle on defense and two stops on special teams while playing a backup role in the Patriots’ three postseason games.
The 6-foot-1, 229-pound Casillas proved to be nothing more than a rental, though, leaving as an unrestricted after that season to sign with the Giants. Appearing in 39 games, starting 30, over three seasons in New York, Casillas registered 219 tackles, 3-1/2 sacks and one interception, but wrist and neck injuries limited the 30-year-old to just eight games before he was placed on the injured reserve list in 2017.
As for the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Cleveland, his time in New England gave new meaning to the old term “one and done.”
Acquired from San Francisco in August 2015 in exchange for offensive lineman Jordan Devey, Cleveland appeared in just four games, making the only reception of his NFL career (he’s appeared in 14 games: six with the 49ers and four with the Chargers in addition to his four with the Patriots) for 1 yard prior to his release on Christmas Day.
In August of last year, Cleveland, who will turn 26 on Wednesday, was waived by Los Angeles with an injury designation and reverted to the Chargers IR list after going unclaimed.
Meanwhile, ESPN reported that 29-year-old defensive end Adrian Clayborn was headed to New England for a visit with the Patriots. Clayborn had 9-1/2 sacks with Atlanta last season. Six of those came in the Falcons’ 27-7 win over Dallas on Nov. 12, five coming against Chaz Green, who was filling in for Cowboys starter Tyron Smith at left tackle.
ESPN also reported that the Patriots would be hosting running back Jeremy Hill, who rushed for 2,873 yards on 704 attempts (a 4.1-yard average) with 29 touchdowns and caught 67 passes for 484 yards and one TD over four seasons (2014-2017) with the Cincinnati Bengals, on Friday.
Condolences extended: The Patriots extended their “deepest condolences and sympathies to the Benson family and the entire Saints organization” following the death of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson at the age of 90.
In a statement released by the team, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said that Benson “leaves a lasting legacy for his many contributions to the game and more importantly to his community.”