Free-agent receiver Sam Aiken, who played for the Patriots from 2008-2009 and was with the team in 2010 training camp, was back in town this week for a workout with the team.
In addition to Aiken, the Patriots also worked out free agents Landon Cohen (defensive line) and Andy Fantuz (receiver).
The Patriots have one open roster spot after waiving defensive lineman Louis Leonard today, according to a league source.
In bringing Aiken to town, the Patriots might have concerns on special teams coverage units in mind. The team's kickoff and punt coverage has been inconsistent in recent weeks, with one of the latest examples coming in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win when Green Bay's Sam Shields returned a kickoff 45 yards after New England went ahead 31-27.
Aiken, who turned 30 on Dec. 14, was a special teams captain with the Patriots last season. He was cut coming out of training camp and hooked on with the Cleveland Browns, playing in three games this season.
Cohen (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft choice of the Lions in 2008 and spent his first two seasons in Detroit. He was claimed on waivers by the Jaguars this year and appeared in two games for them before he was let go in early November.
Fantuz (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. Fantuz has his own Web site and posts video about one of his recent workouts, with the Pittsburgh Steelers.