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Following his surprising release by the Arizona Cardinals, wide receiver Michael Floyd was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots, the team announced on Dec. 15.

ESPN's Field Yates first reported the news.



Floyd was inactive in Week 15 for the Patriots, but the team announced that Floyd will be active against the New York Jets on Saturday.

The Cards cut Floyd on Dec. 14, two days after he was arrested and charged with two counts of driving under the influence. He was found unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle and stopped at an intersection by police, according to ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss.

ESPN's Adam Schefter, citing league sources, reported on Dec. 18 that Floyd is "expected to face discipline this offseason." Schefter added: "The discipline likely will center on the blood test Floyd took the morning he was arrested for the DUI, after he refused to take a breathalyzer. Results of that blood test are expected back within the next month, and they will determine the receiver's level of intoxication and quite possibly the punishment he will face."

Arizona's decision to part ways with Floyd shocked many of his former teammates, and quarterback Carson Palmer made it clear he would miss his presence, per Weinfuss:

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It's a tough day. Mike's a close friend of mine, offseason golfing buddy, workout partner, so it's tough. I believe in Mike. I hope for nothing but the best for Mike and look forward to seeing what he does with the next opportunity he gets. ... ... You lose a friend, and Mike is one of those guys that everyone in the locker room loved. Always had a smile on his face and a great energy about him. He's taken drastic steps in his leadership role. Aside from the football and statistics and catches and all those things, he was a leader, and there are some shoes to fill there for us on offense.

Prior to his release, Floyd was struggling through a down season with just 33 receptions for 446 yards and four touchdowns through 13 games.

It was a far cry from what he produced in each of the previous three years. The 27-year-old veteran put up more than 840 yards and six touchdowns in both 2014 and 2015 after enjoying a career year with 65 grabs for 1,041 yards and five scores in 2013.

Floyd had fallen behind both Larry Fitzgerald and running back David Johnson in the receiving pecking order, and he regularly competed for targets with John Brown, J.J. Nelson and tight end Jermaine Gresham.

Despite that, his talent is undeniable, as the former No. 13 overall draft pick out of Notre Dame is a big-play threat with ideal size at 6'2" and 220 pounds.

Floyd was set to hit free agency during the offseason ahead of his release, and now that he's caught on with the Patriots, he may have a chance to rebuild his value.

A logjam of weapons in Arizona's passing game prevented him from reaching his full potential, but now that he is away from that situation, the production ceiling seems to be much higher.

Floyd has plenty to prove both from a football and off-field perspective, and if he is able to take advantage of the opportunity given to him by the Patriots, a sizable contract may still be in his future.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.