The New England Patriots added to their linebacking corps on Tuesday in a trade with the Tennessee Titans for Akeem Ayers, NFL.com reported.
The deal, which is contingent upon Ayers passing a physical, includes the Patriots giving up a sixth-round draft choice to the Titans for Ayers and Tennessee’s seventh-round pick.
Ayers, 25, had two knee surgeries during the offseason and was active in just two games and played only 10 snaps for the Titans this season. He also struggled in 2013, finishing the season with only 49 tackles and a sack after posting 104 tackles and six sacks in 2012.
The Patriots desperately need linebacker help after losing Jerod Mayo for the season with a knee injury.
Belichick: Beware those Bears
With the Bears coming to Foxboro next Sunday, the main concern on Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s mind is containing the Chicago offense’s array of dangerous skill players.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has a high-powered group around him in running back Matt Forte, wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall, and tight end Martellus Bennett. As a team, the Bears rank ninth in the league in passing yards per game (267.7).
“They’re an explosive offensive team, got a lot of big-play players — receivers, tight ends, quarterback, running back — a lot of guys that can hurt you and hurt you in a hurry,” Belichick said. “A lot of talented players on offense, a lot of guys that can hurt you in a hurry, tough group overall to defend because of the number of skill players and schemes, multiple schemes that Marc (Trestman, Chicago’s coach) uses.”
Defensively, the Bears are a little more in the middle of the road statistically, but Belichick was still complimentary.
“(The Bears have) a good front, a good pass-rushing team, active linebackers and secondary, play quite a bit of zone coverage,” he said. “They don’t give up a lot of big plays and they do a good job defensively of getting you off the field with their front, causing negative plays, batted balls, turnovers off their zone coverages, break on the quarterback who’s under pressure, that type of thing.”
Belichick praises Gray
Running back Jonas Gray was promoted from the Patriots’ practice squad to the active roster Oct. 16 and made his NFL debut that day on Thursday Night Football against the Jets. The former undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame filled the roster spot vacated when Stevan Ridley landed on IR with a torn ACL/MCL.
Gray earned just three carries for 12 yards against New York, seeing 16 snaps of action in his debut. He led the Patriots in rushing during the preseason and Belichick has liked what he has seen from the young runner.
“I think Jonas has been solid for us all the way through preseason,” Belichick said. “He’s done a good job in practice. He got an opportunity last night — not a lot of opportunities, but he had some blitz pickup opportunities, had a few carries. He works hard, he’s a tough kid. (He’s a) bigger back obviously, more in the Ridley size range. He played for us in the kicking game as well. (We’ll) keep going with that. This is an opportunity for him. Unfortunate the way it came out, but he’s worked hard. He deserves it. We’ll see what he can do with it.”