Lynn Bowden Jr. Takes All-Purpose Spot On New England Patriots’ Initial Practice Squad Of 2022

A place on the practice squad remained open for the New England Patriots. It now belongs to a former first-team All-American who has aligned in several places.

New England signed Lynn Bowden Jr. to the group of 16 on Thursday, as first reported by Field Yates of ESPN.

Bowden, 24, converted from quarterback to wide receiver as a freshman at the University of Kentucky and led the team with 67 catches for 745 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore. The all-purpose Wildcats captain then filled in under center as a junior amid injuries in 2019.

That year, Bowden amassed 403 passing yards, 1,468 rushing yards, 348 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. He did so while also averaging 24.4 yards per kick return and 13.3 yards per punt return after taking a pair to the end zone the prior fall.

The NFL glimpses have been brief since then.

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Bowden in the third round of the 2020 draft. The No. 80 overall pick was traded to the Miami Dolphins before his rookie campaign began, and he spent all of last campaign on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.

In between came ten appearances in the regular season.

Those appearances brought 28 catches for 211 yards, nine carries for 32 yards and one completion for 32 yards. A total of 336 offensive snaps were played. Pro Football Focus charted Bowden, listed at 5-foot-11, 199 pounds, for 73.5% of his in the slot.

Miami waived Bowden at the league’s 53-man roster deadline this August. He had scored two touchdowns on six targets during the preseason, yet found himself on the outside of a wideout room featuring Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Erik Ezukanma and Trent Sherfield.

In New England, Bowden will wear No. 80.

He joins fellow past recipients of the Paul Hornung Award, given to college football’s most versatile player, in 2016 Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers and 2021 Houston cornerback Marcus Jones. He also joins a depth chart that has been subject to attrition.

Rookie wide receiver Tyquan Thornton recently underwent surgery to repair a fractured clavicle and will miss the start of the regular season. Additionally, veteran hybrid Ty Montgomery had been carted to the locker room in the summer finale against Las Vegas after sustaining an ankle injury.

The practice squad includes Tre Nixon and Lil’Jordan Humphrey at the position. The active roster includes Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor and 2015 Dolphins first-round pick DeVante Parker, who was acquired in an April AFC East trade.

New England visits Miami for the opener on Sept. 11. Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET.