ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — David Andrews’ uncertain status led the New England Patriots to fill a potentially sudden need at center by acquiring Russell Bodine in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Friday.
The Patriots sent Buffalo a 2020 sixth-round draft pick, the Bills announced.
Bodine is a fifth-year player who might have to replace Andrews, who was hospitalized last weekend because of blood clots in his lung.
Andrews was released from the hospital on Monday and was spotted in sweat pants during pregame warmups of the Patriots’ 31-29 preseason-ending loss to the New York Giants on Thursday night.
The Patriots haven’t released any information regarding Andrews’ condition. James Ferentz started at center against New York.
Bodine was entering his sixth NFL season and second in Buffalo after starting 10 games at center last year. The trade comes a day after the Bills announced starting center Mitch Morse being cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol, and a day before NFL teams make their final cuts to establish their 53-player rosters.
The 27-year-old Bodine was selected by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, and started 64 games for the Bengals before signing with Buffalo in free agency last year.
He became the odd man out following Buffalo’s extensive offseason offensive line overhaul in free agency. He was listed third on the depth chart at the position, behind Morse and another newcomer Spencer Long.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press the Denver Broncos have acquired cornerback Duke Dawson from the New England Patriots.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Friday because the trade wasn’t announced by either team. The trade includes a swap of late-round draft picks and was first reported by NFL Network.
The Broncos also acquired a seventh-round selection from New England for a sixth-rounder in next year’s draft.
The Patriots grabbed the Florida cornerback late in the second round of the 2018 draft to possibly fill Malcom Butler’s spot. Butler signed with Tennessee that offseason after being benched at the Super Bowl.
But Dawson, the No. 56 overall pick, missed his rookie season with a hamstring injury, and New England chose former Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams in the second round this year.
Dawson provides depth in Denver, where he’ll likely compete with De’Vonte Bausby behind Chris Harris Jr., Bryce Callahan and Isaac Yiadom in a retooled secondary.
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