David L. Ryan/Associated Press

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has reportedly caused more problems after a shank was found in his prison cell.

According to Cheryl Fiandaca of WHDH-TV NBC 7 in Boston, guards at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center discovered the homemade knife "during a shakedown of his prison block" Thursday. He has been moved to a segregated unit as a result.

"The segregated unit is a separate area of the prison where prisoners who are in protective custody or who are a concern to the general population are housed," Fiandaca wrote.

Fiandaca added it is unclear how long Hernandez will remain in the segregated unit of the prison.

Hernandez has been involved in prison fights since his conviction. In August, WCVB-5 in Boston (via Fox Sports) reported he was part of a third altercation, with the first two occurring in February 2014 and May 2015.

The 26-year-old Hernandez, who has already been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, is awaiting a trial on double-murder charges that is scheduled to begin Jan. 19, according to the Associated Press (via the Boston Herald).

The Patriots released Hernandez in June 2013 after he was arrested by Massachusetts police.

Hernandez was the Patriots' fourth-round draft pick in 2010. He played in 38 regular-season games over three seasons with the team. He also played in Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants in February 2012.