FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots added a big-bodied wide receiver Wednesday.
The Patriots claimed Leonard Hankerson off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons, according to the NFL transaction wire. They also claimed offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle off waivers from the Detroit Lions and waived receiver Damaris Johnson.
The Patriots also officially placed running back LeGarrette Blount on injured reserve, signed defensive tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen to the 53-man roster, signed linebacker Kevin Snyder to the practice squad and cut running back Trey Williams. The Patriots worked out running back Steven Jackson, but he didn’t sign as of 4 p.m. ET Wednesday.
Hankerson, who’s 6-foot-2, 211 pounds, was placed on injured reserve by the Falcons on Dec. 4 and waived Tuesday. He had 26 receptions for 327 yards with three touchdowns this season before suffering a hamstring injury.
Hankerson has 107 career catches for 1,408 yards with nine touchdowns. He was a Washington Redskins third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Miami.
Waddle played in eight games, starting six, for the Lions at right tackle this season. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2013. He has played in 30 games, starting 24, since coming into the league. He tore his ACL last December and admitted to Lions reporters he wasn’t the same this season.
Waddle allowed five sacks, six QB hits and 24 hurries in eight games this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Johnson was signed by the Patriots on Dec. 1. He played in one game and recorded a 6-yard carry in Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images
