The New England Patriots promoted running back Joey Iosefa to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Saturday to give the team added depth.
The latest casualty for the Patriots was running back LeGarrette Blount, who suffered a hip injury last Sunday night against the Houston Texans that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Blount, the team's leading rusher with 703 yards and six touchdowns, was hurt during the second quarter of the Patriots' 27-6 win.
With Blount placed on injured reserve earlier this week, the Patriots had just two running backs on the active roster -- Brandon Bolden and James White -- going into Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans. The Patriots signed former Denver Broncos running back Montee Ball to their practice squad on Tuesday.
Iosefa, 24, was signed to the New England practice squad on Oct. 21. The 6-foot, 245-pounder, was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round out of Hawaii in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was released by Tampa Bay on Aug. 30.
The Patriots also released linebacker Eric Martin.
Martin, 24, has spent time on the Patriots' practice squad and 53-man roster this season. He was originally signed to the practice squad on Dec. 29, 2014. The 6-2, 250-pound Martin entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the New Orleans Saints out of Nebraska in 2013. Martin has played in four games for the Patriots this season, with three special teams tackles.
