AP photo The Partiots are reportedly bringing back Brian Hoyer, who played with Indy last year, on a one-year deal.

He’s back.

Yes, the New England Patriots did what many expected they would do in bringing back veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer for his third go-round with the team.

Hoyer retuns to the team on a one-year deal; he was released toward the end of training camp last year after a year-plus second stint on the roster as then-rookie Jarrett Stidham showed he could handle the seldom-used backup role to Tom Brady.

With Brady gone, now Stidham, should he win the starting job, will need a veteran backup.

Hoyer’s first stint was with the Patriots from 2009-2011, and he spent last season with the Indianapolis Colts as a backup to Jacoby Brisett. The Colts released him on Saturday.

He’s also played with the Steelers, 49ers, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, and Arizona Cardinals.

Hoyer is seen as a capable backup, more so than another seldom-used veteran on the roster, Cody Kessler.

Last year for Indy he appeared in three games, starting one, completing a total of 35 of 65 passes for 372 yards with four TDs and four INTs.

His best year came in 2014 as a starter for the Cleveland Browns, as he completed 242 of 438 for 3,326 yards with 12 TDs and 13 INTs in 13 games (12 starts).

Overall Hoyer has started 38 of the 67 games he’s appeared in, with 873 completions in 1,477 attempts (59.1 percentage) for 10,274 yards, 52 TDs and 34 INTs.

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The Patriots also agreed on a one-year deal with former Jets linebacker Brandon Copeland on a minimum deal. Copeland played in 12 games last year with the Jets, starting three, with 1.5 sacks and 42 combined tackles (27 solo).

The four-year veteran also played two seasons with the Detroit Lions.

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