The Patriots will be shuffling their wide receiver corps once again.
Donte’ Stallworth is heading to injured reserve with an ankle injury a week after he rejoined the team as a free agent. Stallworth certainly got the most out of his brief stay on the active roster as he caught a 63-yard touchdown in Monday night’s 42-14 win over the Texans, but the Patriots will now be in the market for more depth at receiver.
Stallworth was signed when Julian Edelman went on injured reserve and the team now only has Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd and Matthew Slater at the position with Slater seeing almost all of his time on special teams. Stallworth was with the Patriots during the summer and in 2007 before coming back for this short stay. Another familiar face is reportedly taking his place. Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe reports that Deion Branch is headed back to the team.
The Patriots also released Visanthe Shiancoe on Tuesday. Shiancoe spent eight weeks on injured reserve and played in four games after being activated without catching a pass. New England hopes to get Rob Gronkowski back at tight end before too much longer as he heals from his broken forearm.