NFL: New England Patriots Get Veteran Receivers

The New England Patriots have apparently responded to their state of emergency in the Wide Receiver Corps and signed Eric Decker for a year. This was reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport on Thursday.

According to ESPN, Decker completed a training session with the Patriots on Monday after Wide Receiver Jordan Matthews suffered a thigh injury and was subsequently released. After successful years with the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets, 31-year-old Decker last played for the Tennessee Titans, but only managed 563 yards and a touchdown last season.

Besides Julian Edelman, who will miss the first four games of the season due to a suspension, the Patriots currently also lack the receivers Kenny Britt (muscle injury) and Malcom Mitchell (knee surgery) due to injuries. In Decker quarterback Tom Brady now has a reliable veteran who has already had three 1000-yards seasons in his career.

Decker was drawn 87th by the Denver Broncos in the 2010 NFL draft and made his breakthrough there in his second year (612 YDS, 8 TD). Decker played his best season so far in 2013, when he was one of the most important pass recipients for quarterback Peyton Manning (1288 YDS, 11 TD) and moved into the Super Bowl with the Broncos. Denver lost to the Seattle Seahawks 8-43.