It’s been a busy week for Ian Book. After trying out for the San Francisco 49ers, the former New Orleans Saints draft pick traveled cross-country to sign with the New England Patriots practice squad, as first reported by the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.
A fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2021 draft, Book struggled mightily in his lone start as a rookie (forced into the game between injuries and COVID-19-related absences) and was unceremoniously cut once the coach who drafted him left town. It’s a little surprising that Sean Payton didn’t bring him along to the Denver Broncos, but he has his hands full trying to fix Russell Wilson.
Buy Saints TicketsBook spent the 2022 season on the Philadelphia Eagles roster and was let go during roster cuts this summer. He was tabbed to throw for a couple of tryout receivers in San Francisco on Tuesday and worked out for the Patriots early Wednesday morning before reaching an agreement.
He joins a crowded position group. Mac Jones is the starter with fan-favorite Bailey Zappe backing him up, and the Patriots have a promising rookie on the practice squad in Malik Cunningham. Matt Corral left the team without notice in what Patriots head coach Bill Belichick characterized as a personal matter. But Cunningham is working on other positions — much like Taysom Hill has done in New Orleans — so it makes sense to bring in a third passer to fill out the depth chart. Good luck to Book as he turns the page to this new chapter.
