Staff report

 

Staff report

Nick Leverett, an offensive lineman who began his high school football career at North Rowan and graduated from Concord High, has signed with the New England Patriots.

New England’s starting left guard Cole Strange suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 15 of the 2023 season and is expected to miss some time in 2024 as he recovers.

Leverett, who has seen action in 16 NFL games,  mostly at left guard, has been with the Tampa Bay Bucs for several years.

Leverett (6-foot-4, 310 pounds) played college football at North Carolina Central and Rice. He wasn’t drafted, but signed with the Bucs as a free agent in 2020.

He started 10 games for Tampa in 2022 in Tom Brady’s final NFL season and played more than 700 snaps. He allowed zero sacks and eight hurries.

In 2023, Leverett was limited to only three games by a shoulder injury. He was used on special teams as a blocker on PATs and field goals.