The Patriots are doing some roster reconstruction two days after cut-down day.
Running back Damien Harris will join Beau Allen on the Patriots’ injured reserve, the team announced Monday. To replace Harris, running back J.J. Taylor will be signed from the team’s practice squad.
Harris has missed a week’s worth of practices due to a reported hand injury. The second-year running back was expected to play a big factor in the Patriots’ running game this season after playing in just two games his rookie season.
“Damien has had a really good camp,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said in a SiriusXM NFL Radio interview last week. “He came to camp in very good condition. He’s taken a lot of reps. He’s handled everything in the running game and passing game very well, which he did last year. I think everybody had a lot of confidence in him but they’ve all gained a lot more in him just because of his consistency and dependability.”
With the NFL’s injured reserve rules for the 2020 season, Harris can return to practice in three weeks. If he returns to practice, the Patriots will have 21 days to place him on the active roster.
Taylor was cut by the Patriots as part of their roster cut-down on Saturday. No team claimed Taylor and the Patriots signed him to their practice squad on Sunday.
Taylor, who signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in May, reportedly had a good showing in Patriots training camp. In four years at Arizona, Taylor rushed for 3,263 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also had 62 catches for 487 yards and two touchdowns in his college career.
Taylor will join Sony Michel, James White and Rex Burkhead in the Patriots’ backfield.
