Patriots Audition Former Vikings Pass Rusher

Dustin Baker |

Nov 1, 2023

Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports.

The New England Patriots are 2-6 through eight weeks, with a 1.9% chance of reaching the postseason, per ESPN’s Football Power Index.

Patriots football has significantly changed since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020, and the 2023 season is merely the latest example.

Patriots Audition Former Vikings Pass Rusher

And with faint hopes of salvaging its season, New England worked out a former Minnesota Vikings pass rusher on Tuesday, 28-year-old Tashawn Bower.

KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweeted the news, “Patriots worked out Tashawn Bower and A.J. Thomas.”

Bower actually spent three seasons from 2019 to 2021 attached to the Patriots roster in varying capacities, so it’ll be a reunion if the tryout is parlayed into a practice squad assignment. He was last a part of the New York Giants organization, albeit only for a month this summer.

Here’s his career resume to date:

Minnesota Vikings (2017–2019)
New England Patriots (2019–2021)
Minnesota Vikings (2021)
Las Vegas Raiders (2022)
New York Giants (2023)

Bower was an undrafted free agent signed by the Vikings on May 1, 2017, spending 2017, 2018, 2019, and some of the 2021 season in Minnesota. A product of LSU, Bower never really caught on inside the Vikings mainstream defense.

Bower did, though, start a few games in New England during 2020 and 2021.

Vikings outside linebacker Danielle Hunter was lost for the season on Halloween night in 2021 to a torn pectoral muscle. Soon after, Bower signed in Minnesota, finishing the season with Mike Zimmer and friends. All together, Bower played 34 defensive snaps in 2021 and saw 5 special teams plays.

Bower was a key contributor on the 2016 LSU team that won the Citrus Bowl, alongside other future NFLers Jamal Adams, D.J. Chark, Leonard Fournette, Kristian Fulton, Russell Gage, Derrius Guice, and Tre’Davious White.

Here are the Patriots current outside linebackers:

Josh Uche
Marte Mapu
Anfernee Jennings
Chris Board
Matthew Judon (IR)
Terez Hall (IR)

New England’s defense ranks 22nd leaguewide through eight weeks per EPA/Play, an uncharacteristically poor mark for a group led by Bill Belichick. The offense is worse at No. 28 for the same metric. The combined stats explain entirely the club’s 2-6 standing with the season’s midpoint approaching.

New England also employs former Vikings players Vederian Lowe (OT) and Riley Reiff (OT, IR). The Patriots host the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.