Terrance Knighton chooses Patriots, turns down return to Redskins

Veteran nose tackle Terrance Knighton has agreed to terms with the Patriots after mulling offers from New England and the Washington Redskins.

Knighton posted an edited picture of himself in a Patriots uniform on his Twitter page on Thursday evening after previously stating he had made his decision. As early as Wednesday, Knighton was leaning toward a more lucrative offer from the Patriots, according to a person familiar with the situation. According to NFL Network, Knighton’s deal with the Patriots is for one year, $4.5 million, which was more than what the Redskins offered. 

The Redskins signed Knighton to a one-year, $4.45 million deal last season. Knighton, who played in 15 games, recorded 29 tackles and 1.5 sacks, despite playing most of the second half of the year with severe cluster headaches. The only game he missed was the Redskins’ 27-10 loss to the Patriots in Week 9.

The Patriots are the fourth team Knighton will have played for in the last five years. Listed at 6-foot-3, 354 pounds, Knighton has had issues controlling his weight, which was why he was forced to take a one-year deal with the Redskins last season.

Though he only missed one game last season because of the cluster headaches, the Windsor, Connecticut native often slept just one or two hours a week because of the pain, which sapped his energy and affected his workouts. Knighton played heavier than his listed weight last season, but is said to have shed 30 to 40 pounds in the offseason.