FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed WR Riley McCarron to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and added TE Stephen Anderson to the practice squad. In addition, the Patriots placed 2018 second-round draft pick (56th overall) DB Duke Dawson on injured reserve. 

McCarron, 25, was signed by New England to the practice squad on Sept. 2, 2018. The 5-foot-8, 198-pounder spent the 2018 offseason with the team and was released on Sept. 1, 2018. McCarron originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Houston out of Iowa. He began his rookie season on the Houston practice squad before finishing the season on the New England practice squad after signing on Sept. 22, 2017.

Anderson, 25, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Houston out of California on May 6, 2016. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has appeared in 28 regular-season games with five starts over two seasons with the Texans and totaled 36 receptions for 435 yards and two touchdowns. Anderson has also appeared as a reserve in two playoff contests. He was released by Houston on Sept. 1, 2018.

Dawson, 22, was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 56th overall selection out of Florida. The 5-foot-10, 202-pounder played in all 48 games during his college career and posted 82 tackles, six interceptions with three returned for touchdowns and 23 passes defensed. As a senior in 2017, he started in all 11 games and totaled 34 tackles, four interceptions with one returned for a touchdown and nine passes defensed.