Patriots Rumors: Practice Squad Adds Defender After Week 1 Win

The Patriots’ quest to find production on the interior of their defense continued Tuesday.

New England signed defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy to its practice squad, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. Roy was one of eight players to reportedly work out for the club Monday, the majority of whom were defensive tackles.

The Patriots have been on a mission to try and replace the production lost in Christian Barmore, who was hospitalized with blood clots in late July and is on the non-football injury list. New England reportedly is “bracing for the possibility” that the 25-year-old won’t play at all this season, meaning it can’t have too many depth options at the notoriously injury-riddled position.

Roy was an intriguing choice, as he provides a gap-shooting mentality that could prove to be useful to New England. Trysten Hill was elevated from the practice squad prior to Sunday’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals but only played seven defensive snaps. The Patriots do not have any other interior defenders on the practice squad.