In the wake of releasing Jordan Matthews, the New England Patriots signed free-agent wide receiver Eric Decker, according to multiple media reports Thursday.

Decker, 31, and the Patriots had been in contract discussions over the last few days. He played for the Tennessee Titans last season, starting five regular-season games and catching 54 passes for 563 yards. He scored two touchdowns, including one in the postseason.

Eric Decker, 31, who signed with New England after a year in Tennessee, started his career with Denver – coached by Josh McDaniel. Associated Press/Rick Scuteri

In the divisional round of last year’s playoffs against the Patriots, Decker caught six balls on seven targets for 85 yards.

Prior to signing with the Titans as a free agent, Decker played three seasons with the Jets, his last, in 2016, cut short by injury. From 2012-15, Decker caught at least 74 balls every year and racked up three 1,000-yard seasons. He was drafted by the Broncos in 2010 under Josh McDaniel, then the head coach and current the Patriots’ offensive coordinator. Decker spent four years in Denver, where he eventually blossomed catching passes from Peyton Manning.

He joins Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett, Malcolm Mitchell, Cordarrelle Patterson, Riley McCarron, rookie Braxton Berrios, Devin Lucien and Paul Turner on the depth chart.

Britt and Mitchell have yet to practice in training camp, and Turner was signed to the roster last week.

AFTER ANOTHER offseason in the Patriots’ system, it would seem like a forgone conclusion that running back Mike Gillislee is more comfortable going into his second go-around in New England.

But Gillislee, 27, happens to disagree. Given his precarious standing on the depth chart and the short lifespan of NFL careers, he knows a spot on this team is no guarantee.

“I’m never comfortable,” Gillislee said. “I’m pretty sure nobody is ever comfortable. It’s the National Football League; it’s a business. Whenever you get a chance you’ve got to make the most out of it.”

Gillislee has had an interesting tenure in New England, opening the 2017 season as the No. 1 running back after signing a two-year, $6.4 million contract as a restricted free agent.

While he found the end zone five times, Gillislee lost his top spot on the depth chart to Dion Lewis in Week 6 and struggled to assert himself in the rotation.

While Lewis is gone, Gillislee will still have to compete with other potential bubble players like Jeremy Hill and Brandon Bolden.

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