The New England Patriots announced on Monday that they signed defensive end/linebacker Trevor Bates to their practice squad.

Bates, a Westbrook, Maine native and former University of Maine football player, was released by the Indianapolis Colts earlier this season. The 6-foot-2, 247-pound Bates was a seventh-round pick of the Colts in the 2016 NFL draft. The former Westbrook High School Blue Blazes standout was signed to the Colts’ 53-man roster on Oct. 5 and made his NFL debut on Oct. 9 against Chicago. Indianapolis released him on Oct. 13.

To make room for Bates on the practice squad, the patriots released fullback Glenn Gronkowski from the practice squad. Gronkowski is the younger brother of Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The younger Gronkowski was originally signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 6. The Kansas State University product played in the Bills’ season opener before being released on Sept. 12. He had two stints on the Patriots’ practice squad.