Patriots sign 1st-rounder RB Sony Michel; OL Jelks retires

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The New England Patriots have signed the second of their first-round draft picks, Georgia running back Sony Michel.

New England selected Michel 31st overall, eight spots after taking one of his college blocker, Isaiah Wynn.

Michel is expected to be a major contributor in the backfield after the Patriots lost running back Dion Lewis in free agency.

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Michel was third on Georgia's all-time rushing list with 3,688 yards. Last season, he played in 14 games with two starts while splitting time with Nick Chubb, who was drafted in the second round by Cleveland. Michel finished with 1,227 yards on 156 carries (7.9-yard average..

New England also placed offensive lineman Andrew Jelks on the reserve/retired list Monday.

Jelks, 24, was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Vanderbilt last year, but went on the injured reserve/non-football injury list before the regular season. He has been plagued by knee injuries and last played in 2014.

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