FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots claimed second-year nose tackle Darius Kilgo on waivers from the Denver Broncos on Monday, which provides insurance as starter Alan Branch faces a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
Branch's status remains uncertain as he is appealing the suspension, but the 6-foot-3, 319-pound Kilgo adds another layer on the depth chart at the position.
Kilgo entered the NFL as a 2015 sixth-round draft choice out of Maryland, and has appeared in 18 games with the club and has totaled seven tackles. He was waived on Friday so the Broncos could add long snapper Thomas Gafford to their roster.
So the Patriots now have starters Branch and Malcom Brown, with Kilgo and rookies Vincent Valentine (third round, Nebraska) and Woodrow Hamilton (undrafted, Mississippi) behind them.
To make room for Kilgo, the Patriots waived rookie running back D.J. Foster, who is a strong candidate to return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
Foster, who made the initial 53-man roster despite going undrafted out of Arizona State, appeared in three games for the Patriots this season and totaled seven carries for 24 yards, while adding one catch for two yards.
