FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots continue to churn their roster, claiming offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle on waivers from the Detroit Lions and wide receiver Leonard Hankerson on waivers from the Atlanta Falcons.
To make room for both players, the club officially placed running back LeGarrette Blount on season-ending injured reserve and also waived wide receiver Damaris Johnson.
Waddle is a third-year player out of Texas Tech who has played in 30 regular-season games over the last three seasons, with 24 starts. He is 6-foot-6 and 328 pounds and joins Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon and Cameron Fleming on the Patriots' roster at the position.
Waddle entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Lions and is scheduled for restricted free agency after the season.
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-2, 211-pound Hankerson spent the 2015 season with the Falcons after four years with Washington. He had been placed on injured reserve Dec. 4 (hamstring) after totaling 26 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Hankerson's contract expires after the 2015 season and he is scheduled for unrestricted free agency. He joins Julian Edelman (currently sidelined with a foot injury), Danny Amendola (limited by a knee injury), Brandon LaFell and Keshawn Martin as receivers on the Patriots' roster.
As for Johnson, he had signed a two-year contract with the Patriots on Dec. 1. He played in one game, totaling three offensive snaps in a 35-28 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and had a 7-yard rush on a jet sweep.
The Patriots also formally announced the signing of defensive tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, formerly of the Cleveland Browns. The club also waived running back Trey Williams off the practice squad.
