The New England Patriots know the importance of depth: the team currently has 11 players listed on its injury report Josh Gordon Jersey , while 12 more are currently on an injury-related reserve list. Save to say that having players available to step up when needed is one of the most important parts of building an NFL roster. It is therefore no surprise to see the Patriots work out free agents every now and then to update their files and have them as potential emergency call-ups.Recently, New England brought in four players (via ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss)E Tank CarradineA second-round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers, Cornelllius “Tank” Carradine appeared in 45 games over the course of his five-year career. Playing as a rotational edge defender and part-time special teamer, the Florida State product registered a combined 5.5 sacks and 77 tackles since 2013. This offseason, and coming off a season in which he missed nine games due to an ankle injury, Carradine left San Francisco to sign with the Oakland Raiders. However, he was let go by the team at his own request two weeks ago.DB A.J. HowardDespite being a three year starter at Appalachian State, strong safety A.J. Howard did not hear his name called during this year’s draft. Instead, he joined the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted rookie. However, the part-time defender Antonio Garcia Color Rush Jersey , part-time special teamer failed to crack the team’s 53-man roster and instead was let go during roster cuts. Howard could be an intriguing developmental option due to his versatility and experience when going one-on-one against tight ends.LB Corey NelsonCorey Nelson entered the league as a seventh round draft pick by the Denver Broncos in 2014. Primarily used in the kicking game, the Oklahoma product appeared in 57 games for the team. After spending most of 2017 on injured reserve due to a torn biceps, Nelson left Denver to join the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent. However, he failed to make the team and was instead picked up by the Atlanta Falcons. After appearing in one game for Atlanta, Nelson was let go again.LB Tegray ScalesAnother undrafted rookie, Tegray Scales joined the Los Angeles Rams as a free agent this offseason. Like the aforementioned Howard, however, he failed to crack the team’s roster and instead was released during cutdowns. The 6’0, 230 lbs linebacker, who was named All-Big Ten during his 2017 senior season at Illinois https://www.patriotsfanstore.com/Cyrus-Jones-Jersey , may lack the desired size to work on an every down basis, but he comes with solid instincts and could develop into a special teams presence if given the time.While New England’s linebackers looked very solid in stretches over the last three weeks, the team could benefit from having more depth available behind its top three (Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts). Ever since impressive rookie Ja’Whaun Bentley was placed on injured reserve after week three, the team has lacked a realistic fourth option. That being said, none of the four players above should be expected to immediately become just that. Kyle Van Noy recorded one sack for the team that drafted him. Including playoffs, he’s since recorded 14.5 more."WhitePatriots News Opinion and Analysis Contribute! FanPostsFanShotsAbout the Site List of Patriots Twitter AccountsWrite For Pats Pulpit!New User Welcome and Commenting GuideCommunity GuidelinesMastheadTopics Patriots Off-Season CoveragePatriots Opinion/AnalysisPatriots NewsPatriots Draft CoverageSportfolio ManagementPatriots Opinion/AnalysisFlipping through Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy’s catalog of sacked quarterbacksNew,6commentsKyle Van Noy recorded one sack for the team that drafted him. Including playoffs, he’s since recorded 14.5 more.ESTShareTweetShareShareFlipping through Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy’s catalog of sacked quarterbacksRichard Mackson-USA TODAY SportsKyle Van Noy recorded his first NFL sack on Oct. 25 Jordan Richards Color Rush Jersey , 2015.It came on first-and-10 with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter at Ford Field.A quarterback by the name of Teddy Bridgewater faked the handoff to the left and rolled out to the right. Van Noy shifted into coverage duties before closing on the flat. And there he found a Minnesota Viking running short on both open receivers and open real estate.Van Noy proceeded to push Bridgewater out of bounds.Or, get a hand on him. Or, graze him.It went in the box score as a loss of one yard in a game his side would ultimately lose. And if Van Noy doesn’t remember the play, it’d be understandable as to why. It was routine. Harmless. Perhaps not a sack at all.But it was the only one Van Noy would log as a member of the organization that drafted him.The 2014 second-round pick out of Brigham Young saw his Detroit Lions tenure end after 31 games, including a wild-card appearance.Van Noy has since appeared in 45 games between the regular season and playoffs for the New England Patriots. The versatile linebacker has appeared in three Super Bowls over that span, winning a pair while raising his career sack tally from one to 15.5.Who’s joined Bridgewater in Van Noy’s catalog over the last three campaigns? Some interesting names.Here’s the chronological order as another league year nears.QUARTERBACKS SACKED BY VAN NOYTeddy Bridgewater: 1 – Oct. 25, 2015Colin Kaepernick: 1 – Nov. 20, 2016Matt Ryan: 0.5 – Feb. 5, 2017Cam Newton: 1 – Oct. 1, 2017Jameis Winston: 0.5 – Oct. 5 Jonathan Jones Jersey , 2017Josh McCown: 2 – Oct. 15, 2017Derek Carr: 0.5 – Nov. 19, 2017Matt Moore: 1 – Nov. 26, 2017Tyrod Taylor: 0.5 – Dec. 3, 2017Blake Bortles: 1 – Jan. 21, 2018Derek Anderson: 2 – Oct. 29, 2018Ryan Tannehill: 0.5 – Dec. 9, 2018Ben Roethlisberger: 1 – Dec. 16, 2018Patrick Mahomes: 2 – Jan. 20, 2019Jared Goff: 1 – Feb. 3 Troy Niklas Color Rush Jersey , 2019On the one-year anniversary of Van Noy’s first career sack, the Lions sent him to New England along with pick No. 239 overall in the 2017 draft.Pick No. 215 overall was received in the exchange.Van Noy’s second sack followed only a couple weeks later in his Patriots debut against Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers. Then came a half-sack in Super Bowl LI against then-AP NFL MVP Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons in February.Van Noy would pen a two-year, $11.75 million contract extension ahead of the 2017 opener and hit home for 5.5 sacks by that January.More have followed.More ranging from Cam Newton and Matt Moore to Ben Roethlisberger and Derek Anderson.Van Noy has gotten to 15 different quarterbacks in all at a position where rushing the passer is one-third of the job description. He’s tallied 4.5 sacks through New England’s last seven playoff contests, too, with the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the Los Angeles Rams’ Jared Goff on the other end of the most recent ones this winter.They’ve all counted for Van Noy, who turns 28 this March and accrued 92 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception this past regular season.Even that first one out of play action against the Vikings at Ford Field.Depending on who you ask.