Patriots add 5 practice-squad players to active roster for season finale

The Patriots added five practice-squad players to their active roster Saturday, needed reinforcements ahead of Sunday’s season finale against the Jets.

Linebacker Cassh Maluia, defensive end Rashod Berry and cornerback Michael Jackson were signed to the 53-man roster, while cornerback D’Angelo Ross and offensive guard Ross Reynolds were promoted as game-day elevations. The Pats placed running back Damien Harris on injured reserve to create an extra roster spot. Harris had already been ruled out for Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.

Maluia projects to have the largest role on Sunday, as the team’s only healthy linebacker. The sixth-round rookie has already appeared in eight games this season, but took his first NFL defensive snaps in last Monday’s loss to Buffalo. He has yet to accrue any statistics this year.

Linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley, Terez Hall and Anfernee Jennings are all questionable for kickoff, while Josh Uche was placed on injured reserve this week.

Berry has appeared in two games this year, seeing 26 defensive snaps between a Week 6 loss to the Broncos and Week 12 blowout of the Chargers. Jackson hasn’t taken a regular-season snap this season and played in just one game over his career. Ross and Reybolds have never appeared in an NFL game.

More than a quarter of the Pats’ current roster now consists of street free agents or players who spent time on a practice squad this season.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3pFosXN