Released in February, cornerback Tae Hayes returned to the New England Patriots on Tuesday, when the NFL team announced his signing.

As in every season of his NFL career, Hayes played for two teams in 2022. The former Decatur High School standout played in five games with the Carolina Panthers. After being released by Carolina on Dec. 20, he joined the Patriots’ practice squad on Dec. 27 and played in New England’s final two games of the season.

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Hayes was on the field for 38 defensive snaps and 16 special-teams plays with the Panthers and 32 defensive snaps with the Patriots.

Between Hayes’ release and re-signing, New England selected Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez in the first round of the NFL Draft and kept cornerback Jonathan Jones out of free agency with a three-year, $21 million contract.

Cornerbacks Jalen Mills, Myles Bryant, Marcus Jones and Jack Jones remain on the team after starting 22 games combined last season.

Hayes entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie from Appalachian State in 2019. He played in one regular-season game with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, two with the Miami Dolphins in both 2019 and 2020 and one with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020.

After being released by the Arizona Cardinals at the end of the preseason in 2021, Hayes spent the final two weeks of that season on the Panthers’ practice squad without playing.

Before returning to the Panthers in training camp in 2020, Hayes helped the Birmingham Stallions win the USFL championship.

Hayes made 37 tackles and intercepted one pass as Birmingham compiled a 9-1 regular-season record. In the Stallions’ two playoff victories, Hayes had seven tackles, one interception, three pass breakups and one forced fumble.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.