Patriots Assigned FB/TE Jakob Johnson As International Pathway Player

According to Ben Volin, the Patriots have been assigned TE/FB Jakob Johnson as a part of the International Player Pathway program.  

https://twitter.com/NFLDeutschland/status/1115272066989617154

Johnson, 24, is originally from Stuttgart, Germany. He played for four years at Tennessee as a defensive end and tight end, recording 22 total tackles and a forced fumble in addition to catching three passes for 23 yards in 17 games. 

Johnson spent 2018 with the Stuttgart Scorpions in Germany. 

The International Player Pathway program was instituted by the NFL in 2017 as a way to grow the game of football. Each year one of the NFL’s eight divisions will be randomly chosen to receive one international player each.

Those players don’t count against the 90-man roster limit and can be carried as an eleventh practice squad member if they’re not signed to a contract.