NFL Rumors: Yannick Ngakoue Claimed by Patriots After Being Waived by Ravens

The New England Patriots reportedly added some pass-rushing help ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Friday the AFC East team claimed Yannick Ngakoue.

Ngakoue was available because the Baltimore Ravens announced Thursday they released him to make room on the 53-man roster to activate running back Keaton Mitchell. Ngakoue appeared in five games for the Ravens this season.

It is notable New England added the pass-rusher ahead of the game against the Bears because that was the team he played for last season.

He posted 22 tackles and four sacks in 13 games for Chicago, which was a far cry from some of the earlier production in his career when he suited up for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts.

Ngakoue was a third-round pick of the Jaguars in the 2016 NFL draft and posted at least eight sacks in each of his four seasons with the team. He was a Pro Bowler in 2017 with a career-best 12 sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles for a Jacksonville team that reached the AFC Championship Game.

He split the 2020 season with the Vikings and Ravens before playing for the Raiders in 2021 and Colts in 2022. While he has been a journeyman, he never finished with fewer than eight sacks in a season until he was with Chicago in 2023.

The veteran hasn't been much of a defensive force this season either with five tackles and 1.5 sacks in his five games with Baltimore.

Perhaps a change of scenery and the potential for a larger role on a struggling New England team that is 2-7 will help him rediscover his old form. He is still just 29 years old and figures to have some productive seasons remaining.

This move gives him an opportunity to make a positive impression ahead of the offseason when he may be seeking his next contract.