News & Info/Headlines
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the team claimed receiver Leonard Hankerson and offensive lineman LaAdrian Waddle off waivers, per a source.
To make room for the new arrivals, the Patriots placed LeGarrette Blount on season-ending injured reserve after the power back suffered a hip injury in Sunday's win over the Texans.
Hankerson was released off IR by the Falcons on Tuesday after catching 26 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
Hankerson spent the previous four seasons -- three of them with Shanahan -- in Washington after the Redskins grabbed him in the third-round of the 2011 draft. He has yet to materialize as a reliable pass-catching threat, but NFL.com believes Hankerson could steal snaps away from the up-and-down Brandon LaFell.
Indeed, Boston Globe staffer Ben Volin, during a Wednesday appearance with the FootballDiehards on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio, told listeners that he believes LaFell is miscast as a downfield threat and that Hankerson would be better suited to that role.
Julian Edelman (foot) also practiced Wednesday and could potentially suit up against the Titans.
If not, Hankerson -- if he can pick up New England's rather complex wideout playbook -- has a shot to see meaningful snaps sooner than later. ...
Meanwhile, following up on an item in this week's Team Notes. ... with Blount done for the year, the Patriots are spreading a wide net for help in the backfield.
New England worked out Steven Jackson on Wednesday.
The former Rams star runner has gone without work all season after spending the past two years in Atlanta toiling for the Falcons. At 32, Jackson has made it clear he wanted to sign with a playoff team, a scenario that gained steam after Blount suffered a hip injury in Sunday night's win over the Texans.
There's a connection here after Patriots play-caller Josh McDaniels coached Jackson in St. Louis before the veteran back moved on to Atlanta, where he piled up 1,250 yards over the past two seasons.
Jackson was a fading asset with the Falcons, lacking lateral quickness and looking all but done at the end of last season. Still, head coach Bill Belichick loves trustworthy veterans and needs a runner to pair with Brandon Bolden and James White. The team also signed former Broncos second-rounder Montee Ball to their practice squad.
According to Volin, however, nothing is imminent in terms of signing Jackson and Ball needs to work on his conditioning before he'll be ready to move up from the practice squad.