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New England Patriots add WR Griff Whalen with Danny Amendola ailing

By The Sports Xchange
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on December 4, 2016. The Patriots defeated the Rams 26-10 and Brady became the NFL's all-time leader for wins by a quarterback for a total of 201 wins in 264 games. Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on December 4, 2016. The Patriots defeated the Rams 26-10 and Brady became the NFL's all-time leader for wins by a quarterback for a total of 201 wins in 264 games. Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI | License Photo

The New England Patriots signed wide receiver/returner Griff Whalen on Friday to help fill the void created by Danny Amendola's ankle injury.

Amendola is not expected to be available for Monday night's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

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Whalen, 26, began the 2016 season with Miami and was released at the end of training camp on Sept. 4, and signed with the San Diego Chargers on Sept. 19. He played in eight games for the Chargers and caught two passes for 22 yards on offense and returned four kickoffs for 56 yards. He was released by San Diego on Nov. 22.

To make room for Whalen, the Patriots waived defensive tackle Darius Kilgo, whom they claimed on waivers from the Denver Broncos last week.

Whalen originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a rookie free agent out of Stanford on April 30, 2012. He suffered an injury during the 2012 preseason and spent his rookie season on injured reserve.

From 2013-15, Whalen had several stints on the Colts' 53-man roster and practice squad. Over three seasons with Indianapolis, he had 45 receptions for 487 yards and three touchdowns.

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The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Whalen also saw action on special teams, with 46 punt returns for 376 yards and 25 kickoff returns for 645 yards.

Amendola suffered an ankle sprain last Sunday in the Patriots' 26-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams just one week after tight end Rob Gronkowski suffered a season-ending back injury in Week 12.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick declined to offer many details on Whalen.

"We'll see how it goes," Belichick told reporters Friday. "We'll see how it works into our receiving situation. I don't know. We'll see. ... He's been more of an inside receiver. He's done some returning. Again, we'll see."

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