National Football League

WR Jenkins signs with Patriots

Published Mar. 28, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Patriots have signed free agent wide receiver Michael Jenkins.

In his ninth season, Jenkins caught 40 passes for 447 yards and two touchdowns with the Minnesota Vikings last year. He joined them in 2011 after seven seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, who drafted him in the first round in 2004 out of Ohio State.

Jenkins has 354 catches for 4,427 yards and 25 touchdowns in 130 games, including 79 starts. The Vikings released him March 5.

The Patriots lost their top two receivers from last season when Wes Welker, who had 118 catches, signed with the Denver Broncos, and Brandon Lloyd, who had 74 receptions, was released. They've added free agents Danny Amendola from the St. Louis Rams and Donald Jones from the Buffalo Bills.