Jalen McKenzie entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Additional bookend depth has arrived in Foxborough.
The New England Patriots signed offensive tackle Jalen McKenzie to the practice squad on Monday, the organization announced.
McKenzie, 25, went undrafted out of USC in 2022 following a tenure that spanned 43 appearances. He started 19 games for the Trojans between right tackle and right guard, and earned an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl as a redshirt senior.
After spending his rookie training camp with the Tennessee Titans, McKenzie went on to spend his rookie regular season on the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound blocker moved on to the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad in 2023. Retained on a futures contract in January, he was waived at the NFL’s cutdown deadline in August.
By then, Pro Football Focus had charted the son of current Miami Dolphins senior personnel executive Reggie McKenzie for allowing no sacks, no hits and two quarterback hurries across 62 snaps in preseason pass protection.
Following the 53-man promotion of veteran guard Michael Jordan as well as the release of veteran wide receiver Jalen Reagor, New England carried a pair of openings on the scout team.
The San Francisco 49ers host next Sunday’s 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff at Levi’s Stadium.