Patriots sign Moncrief to practice squad

The receiver-needy New England Patriots have signed journeyman wideout Donte Moncrief to their practice squad, the team announced Wednesday.

The New York Jets most recently inked Moncrief in August, but he was unable to make their final roster. He played for the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018, and the Indianapolis Colts from 2014 to 2017.

Moncrief has registered 204 career receptions for 2,561 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The 2-5 Patriots have tallied the league's second-fewest passing yards, and veteran Julian Edelman, the team's leading pass-catcher, is out after undergoing knee surgery. Damiere Byrd is the active Patriot with the most receiving yards (272), with N'Keal Harry (172) and running back James White (171) following him.

Due to the club's shallow pass-catching corps, New England traded a sixth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for Isaiah Ford on Tuesday. Ford has logged 18 receptions for 184 yards and no touchdowns over seven games this season.