The New England Patriots added another receiver with ties to the offensive coordinator this weekend, hoping to bolster a corps that suddenly looks thin after three established veterans were released.
Greg Salas was acquired from the St. Louis Rams on Saturday for an undisclosed future draft pick. Salas was taken by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2011 draft out of Hawaii and played in six games for the Rams last season, finishing with 27 receptions for 269 yards before a leg injury ended his season.
McDaniels was the team’s offensive coordinator last season before rejoining the Patriots for the playoffs.
The trade followed the release of veterans Donte’ Stallworth, Jabar Gaffney and Deion Branch, although the Patriots might bring back Branch after the first game.
Salas joins veterans Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater.
He has played both in the slot and wide, giving the Patriots depth behind Welker and Lloyd, respectively.
Belichick said Salas was productive both in college and with the Rams until his injury, and that McDaniels’ firsthand experience with him also played a role in the deal.
“We had a good feel for him before Josh was here just based on our scouting department and working him out and getting ready for the draft and all that,” he said.
The retooled Patriots offensive line will also be in the spotlight Sunday. Newly arrived center/guard Matt Tennant, obtained on waivers from New Orleans on Saturday, practiced again Monday and may be ready for the opener at Tennessee.
New starting center Ryan Wendell, one of four players who handled the position last year when Dan Koppen was injured in the first game, said much of what he knows about the position he gleaned from playing alongside Koppen.
New England released Koppen last week.
Notes — The last time the Patriots and Titans met in October 2009 in the snow at Gillette Stadium, Tom Brady threw a record five touchdown passes in one quarter as New England rolled 59-0. The longrange weather forecast shows no chance of snow in Nashville for Sunday’s game. … The Patriots filled their practice squad with the signing of free agent fullback James Develin, a former defensive lineman from Brown. Develin, who spent the entire 2011 season on Cincinnati’s practice squad, was converted to fullback when he played for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League in 2010.
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