| WR Donte’ Stallworth’s return was short lived. He was placed on IR with an ankle injury Tuesday. (US Presswire) |
It took 99 days for Donte' Stallworth to find his way back into the NFL after being released at the end of training camp, and just a handful of snaps for his season to come to a close.
Signed by the Patriots last week, Stallworth suffered an ankle injury in his first game back in New England and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon. The team announced that TE Visanthe Shiancoe and practice squad OL Tommie Draheim were released.
Stallworth was injured in Monday’s 42-14 win over the Houston Texans when making a 63-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. After the game, he spoke about how happy he was to be back with a team.
"Just being out there with the guys," Stallworth said. "When I first got signed earlier this week it was really good being back around the guys, being back here in the locker room with the fellas. It’s been a good week.”
The injury leaves New England with just Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd and Matthew Slater as active wide receivers. Early indications are that Deion Branch, who was released in November and still has a locker at Gillette Stadium, could be brought back.
Shiancoe, signed in the offseason, started the year on injured reserve and played in four games, although he failed to make a reception.
Nick Underhill covers the Patriots for MassLive.com. Follow him on Twitter @CBSPats or@nick_underhill.