FOXBORO -- The Patriots came into Wednesday in the unusual position of having a couple of open roster spots on their 90-man roster just before the team's first training camp practice.
The Patriots filled one of their two open spots, per the agency Reign Sports, by signing undrafted rookie defensive end Caleb Kidder out of Montana. Kidder was initially signed by the Vikings following this year's draft but was recently released to make room for a man named Chunky.
Kidder, who checked in at 6-foot-4, 269 pounds at his pro day, was named to the All-Big Sky second team and racked up 29.5 career tackles for loss. During the pre-draft process, he clocked a 4.97 40-yard dash and a 6.91-second three-cone drill.
It seems as though he'll compete for a spot in a position group that includes Rob Ninkovich, Trey Flowers, Kony Ealy, Shea McClellin, Derek Rivers, Deatrich Wise and Geneo Grissom.
The Patriots had a pair of roster spots open recently when Andrew Hawkins retired and Chase Farris was waived with a non-football injury designation.