The Eagles signed Keene to a reserve/future contract Friday.
Keene ended the regular season on Denver's practice squad, where he spent most of the 2022 campaign, but the Broncos opted not to sign him to a futures deal, making the tight end a free agent. The Virginia Tech product was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he caught three of five targets for 16 yards across six appearances as a rookie but hasn't appeared in a game since.
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Dalton Keene: Returns to Denver
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Keene signed with the Broncos' practice squad Tuesday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.
Keene previously spent time on Denver's practice squad this season, although it was only for three days. He'll now work to have a more productive second opportunity with the team.
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Dalton Keene: Let go from practice squad
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The Broncos cut Keene from their practice squad Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.
Keene's stint with Denver's practice squad lasted all but three days, as he was signed Saturday and let go Tuesday. The 251-pounder has six games under his belt with the Patriots in 2020, where he caught three passes for 16 yards in that span. Keene will now look elsewhere to rejuvenate his NFL career.
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Dalton Keene: Joins Denver's practice squad
Rotowire
Denver signed Keene to its practice squad Saturday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Keene started the season on the Eagles' practice squad after being a casualty of the Patriots' final roster cuts, but he was recently let go by Philadelphia and will get a new opportunity in Denver. The 2020 third-round pick caught three of five targets for 16 yards across six appearances during his rookie season, but he hasn't appeared in an NFL game since.
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Dalton Keene: Loses spot
Rotowire
Keene was cut from the Eagles' practice squad Tuesday.
Keene joined the Eagles' practice squad after being a casualty of the Patriots' final roster cuts. The often-injured tight end has only played in six contests since getting selected in the third-round of the 2020 Draft. He'll work to find an opportunity with another team.
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Dalton Keene: Joins Philly's practice squad
Rotowire
The Eagles signed Keene to their practice squad Wednesday.
Keene was drafted by the Patriots in the third-round of the 2020 Draft, but he often battled injuries and only recorded three catches across six regular-season appearances. He was waived by New England ahead of the 53-man roster deadline and will look to carve out a role on Philadelphia's practice squad.
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Dalton Keene: Waived by Patriots
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The Patriots have waived Keene, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
As Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes, the 2020 third-rounder often battled injuries during his time with the Patriots. Now it looks like the Virginia Tech product -- who has three regular season catches in six game to his credit -- will look for a fresh start with a new team.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Back to full participation
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Keene practiced primarily with the scout-team offense during New England's 11-on-11 team periods Thursday, Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald reports.
Keene's participation in padded team drills Thursday seems to suggest he's fully recovered from an undisclosed injury, which kept him limited during voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp earlier this offseason. The tight end also worked with the team's kick coverage unit, which could prove valuable in ensuring his spot on the team's final roster heading into the regular season. Keene will compete with fellow 2020 third-round pick Devin Asiasi for the Patriots' No. 3 tight-end spot.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Remains limited with knee
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Keene (knee) is still limited at mandatory minicamp, Zack Cox of NESN.com reports.
Keene remains limited at practice while recovering from the meniscus surgery he had last August. His next major benchmark date will come late next month at training camp, when he'll presumably be ready to ramp up his activity. The tight enters the 2022 campaign as a depth piece behind Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Still limited by knee
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Keene was only able to practice in a limited capacity during New England's OTAs last week, Zack Cox of NESN.com reports.
It was presumed that Keene had recovered from the surgery he underwent last August for a meniscus injury that held him out for all of 2021, but evidently that's not the case. It's a concerning sign for Keene, who will need to compete for reps behind Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. He'll need to participate in some capacity in training camp to be a lock to make the Patriots' 2022 roster.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Still in backup TE mix
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Following the 2022 NFL Draft, Keene (knee) and Devin Asiasi remain in the Patriots' backup tight end mix, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic reports.
While neither of the two 2020 third-rounders are threats to supplant the team's top two tight ends, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, the Patriots would no doubt like to see added contributions from Keene and/or Asiasi. Since being taken 101st overall out of Virginia Tech, Keene has recorded just three catches for 16 yards in six regular-season NFL games. The 23-year-old spent last season on IR, but he's presumably past the knee injury that landed him there and will look to reclaim his roster spot ahead of the 2022 campaign.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Moves back to IR
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Keene (knee) shifted back to IR from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports.
Keene underwent season-ending surgery to repair a meniscus injury in August and was ruled out for the season. Now that he's cleared COVID protocols, he can return to rehabbing his knee at the Patriots' facilities to prepare for a return for the 2022 season.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Shifts to COVID-19 list
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Keene (knee) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.
Keene underwent season-ending surgery to repair a meniscus injury in August and isn't expected to play this season. However, after being placed in COVID-19 protocols following his positive test, he will have to produce back-to-back negative tests at least 24 hours apart or complete a 10-day quarantine (if unvaccinated) before he's able to return to team facilities.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Out for season
Rotowire
Keene (knee) recently underwent season-ending surgery to address a meniscus injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Patriots placed Keene on the preseason PUP list with an undisclosed injury before training camp kicked off, and the aforementioned procedure will send him to injured reserve for the entirety of the 2021 campaign. According to Rapoport, Keene had a similar surgery during his time at Virginia Tech, and he also spent time on IR last season with a knee issue. In any case, the 2020 third-rounder won't be a part of the Patriots offense this fall, leaving tight end to be covered by newcomers Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry (as expected) and fellow second-year player Devin Asiasi.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Three catches as rookie
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Keene finished the 2020 season with three catches on five targets for 16 yards in six games.
Meanwhile, fellow rookie Devin Asiasi logged two catches on seven targets for 39 yards yards and a TD in nine contests. Tight end was a big need for the Patriots heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, and when the team took Asiasi and Keene with third-round picks, it was hoped that the duo could make an immediate splash in the offense. Neither player did, however, and the duo's fantasy upside in 2021 is tied to what offseason personnel changes are made, in particular at TE and QB.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Limited snaps Monday
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Keene logged just three snaps on offense in Monday night's 38-9 loss to the Bills.
In five games this season, Keene has caught just two passes for 10 yards. Meanwhile, fellow rookie third-round tight end Devin Asiasi is still looking for his first NFL catch. Both players will need to have strong showings in training camp next year in order to gain any attention in 2021 re-draft leagues.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Catches one pass Sunday
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Keene caught one of his two targets for two yards in Sunday's 22-12 loss to the Dolphins.
Keene was on the field for 29 of the Patriots' 55 snaps on offense Sunday, while fellow rookie tight end Devin Asiasi was out there for 27 snaps en route to logging one target. Neither player has made a fantasy impact thus far, though it's possible that Keene may be a bit more involved over New England's last two games, with the team out of playoff contention and perhaps inclined to get more of a look at some of its younger players during that span.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: In lineup for Week 13
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Keene is active for the Patriots' Week 13 matchup against the Chargers, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.
Heading into a matchup against the Charger's 10th-ranked pass defense, the third-round rookie has one catch for eight yards on the season, with Week 7 marking his lone game appearance. Keene resided on IR from Nov. 10 to Dec. 5 because of a knee injury, but now he'll work in tandem with Ryan Izzo as the only active tight ends for New England.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Moves off IR
Rotowire
Keene (knee) was activated off injured reserve Saturday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
The 2020 third-round pick will make his return to the field after missing the last five games with a knee injury. Keene has played just 24 offensive snaps in his young career to date, but it's possible the rookie tight end might be pressed into action if Ryan Izzo (hamstring/hand) is unable to play Sunday.
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Patriots' Dalton Keene: Heads to IR
Rotowire
The Patriots will move Keene (knee) to injured reserve Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Keene will be sidelined for at least the Patriots' next three games as a result of his move to IR. The rookie third-round pick hadn't seen a major role behind starter Ryan Izzo through the first half of New England's schedule, but his absence weakens the Patriots' depth at the position nonetheless. The Patriots added reinforcement at tight end earlier this week, when the team claimed Jordan Thomas off waivers from Houston.
