FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have signed former Detroit Lions linebacker Paris Lenon.

He signed Wednesday after seven NFL seasons, four with Green Bay and three with Detroit in which he played in all 112 games, starting the last 63. He became a free agent after last season when the Lions went 0-16.
The Patriots needed linebacker help after third-round draft pick Tyrone McKenzie tore a knee ligament at rookie minicamp earlier this month.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Lenon had signed with Carolina as a rookie free agent from Richmond in April 2000, but was cut before training camp. He was with Seattle for 10 days during the 2001 preseason and was signed to the Packers’ practice squad in 2001. He played in 16 games for them in 2002.