Reynolds originally signed with the Patriots’ training team on November 30. He was promoted to the active squad on Saturday.
C MARCUS MARTIN
Martin actually signed last week before the Patriots played the Buffalo Bills, but he was declared inactive in Week 16. Martin started 24 games with the San Francisco 49ers after being selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the USC.
He has only played two games since 2016, however.
LB CASSH MALUIA
A pick of the sixth round of 2020 in Wyoming, Maluia played eight games this season while jumping up and down from the Patriots’ training squad to the 53-player squad. He was hired on Saturday and may have to start in the linebacker with Josh Uche on the IR and Ja’Whaun Bentley, Terez Hall and Anfernee Jennings beaten.
Maluia played only eight defensive snaps in the entire season. Patriots could also move an external or safety linebacker to an internal linebacker.
OLB RASHOD BERRY
Berry was also hired to the active squad on Saturday. He played two games as a team-building workout this season.
Ohio’s unwritten newcomer played mostly on the tight end in college. It has been used in defense and on special teams with the Patriots.
Maybe Bill Belichick could pull a trick out of his hat and use Berry on the tight end on Saturday.
CB MIKE JACKSON SR.
The Patriots have 13 (!) Saves available for Sunday’s game.
Jackson, who is six feet tall and weighs 210 pounds, was selected in the fifth round of the Miami NFL Draft 2019 by the Detroit Lions. The Patriots traded a 2022 conditional choice with Lions for Jackson in August.
Jackson made plays on the training ground, but spent most of the 2020 season on the Patriots’ training team. It has the ideal size and speed (4.45 seconds of a 40-yard stroke) for a boundary cornerback.
CB D’ANGELO ROSS
Ross has excelled in the Patriots’ secondary in the last two training camps. He spent two consecutive years on the New England training team.
Ross is less than 5 feet-9, 190 pounds, but has the versatility to play cornerback or slot safety. He joined the NFL as a non-hired free agent from New Mexico in 2019 and ran a 4.34-second 40-yard run on his professional day.
CB DEE VIRGIN
The Patriots signed with Virgin on Friday. He spent time with the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams this season. He started his career with the Houston Texans, where he signed as a non-hired free agent in western Alabama in 2017.
He has played only two defensive snaps in his career and 447 on special teams since 2018.
Thumbnail photo via New England Patriots / David Silverman