FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots were planning on signing a 3-time Super Bowl champion to their 53-man roster. Instead, an injury changed their plans. On Monday, Mike Vrabel’s team made a series of roster moves, adding a young tight end to the roster and signing a veteran.

The team signed rookie tight end CJ Dippre to their 53-man roster and subsequently released safety John Saunders Jr. to make room. On their practice squad, the team signed veteran linebacker Otis Reece and placed veteran linebacker Darius Harris on the practice squad injured reserve.

This move comes after the Patriots played with one tight end, Hunter Henry, last week against the New York Jets. The team had been playing with two all season, but Austin Hooper suffered a head injury and is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Dippre finished his collegiate career at Alabama. He caught 21 passes for 256 yards last season. Dippre was projected to be drafted in the fifth or sixth round last spring. He was considered one of the best undrafted free agents available. With Hooper’s status in limbo, the Patriots add youth and more depth to their tight end position.

The Patriots signed Saunders off Miami’s practice squad on Oct. 30. He’s been a healthy scratch the last three weeks.

Harris was elevated to the Patriots’ game-day roster last week for the third time this season. A 3-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, the veteran amassed four special teams tackles. After Harris was elevated for the maximum three games, Vrabel said on Monday that the team was planning on adding him to the 53-man roster.

However, Harris suffered an injury in the team’s win over the Jets.

“Yeah, we would (like to sign him),” Vrabel said. “I just don’t think physically right now, Darius is going to be able to. So, we’ll have to see where that goes.”

To take his place, Vrabel’s staff brought in a familiar face. Reece broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Vrabel’s team in Tennessee.

As an undrafted free agent, Reece played in seven games, making three starts for the Titans in 2023, finishing with 21 tackles. Last year, he played in 13 games, making two starts, and finished with 17 tackles and two quarterback hits. Much like Harris, Reece was a core special teamer for the Titans.

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