Patriots Acquire Jonathan Casillas From Buccaneers at Trade Deadline

Jonathan Casillas (52 in white) tries to block a pass from Rams quarterback Austin Davis (9 in blue) earlier this season. AP

By Jake Reiser

October 28, 2014

1 minute to read

The NFL trade deadline has come and passed once again without much buzz, with the biggest trade being the one that sent Percy Harvin from Seattle to the Jets last week. One bit of action that did happen, however, comes from a New England Patriots team that is continuing to find ways to fill the voids the injuries to Jerod Mayo and Chandler Jones leave in their defense.

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Casillas’ claim to fame is that he was credited with recovering the onside kick that helped lead the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV win over the Indianapolis Colts. This isn’t the only move New England has made to help shore up the defense, as they traded a sixth round draft pick for OLB Akeem Ayers, who in his first game, recorded a sack, a quarterback hit and three hurries.

Up to this point in the season, Casillas hadn’t put up too many numbers, with nine combined tackles in five games and no sacks. His most productive season came in 2011 with the Saints, where he had 43 combined tackles and three sacks. Hopefully, Jonathan Casillas can keep helping New England play like the powerhouse it has been over the last few weeks.