Heading into their Week 6 game against the New Orleans Saints, there are some questions about the New England Patriots’ outside linebacker group. As a consequence, rookie Bradyn Swinson has started finding himself in the spotlight.

A fifth-round draft pick by the Patriots earlier this year, Swinson showed some flashes during his first training camp and preseason. His inconsistency and raw profile eventually prevented him from making the 53-man roster, but he was signed to the practice squad shortly after his release ahead of the NFL cutdown deadline.

With the first quarter of the season now in the books, however, outside linebackers coach Mike Smith sees a player who is trending in a positive direction.

“He’s trimming up. He is working,” Smith told reporters at Gillette Stadium on Thurs

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