FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced today that WR Tiquan Underwood has been re-signed to the 53-man roster and that rookie LB Jeff Tarpinian has been placed on injured reserve with a head injury.
In addition, S Ross Ventrone has been signed to the practice squad and DB Josh Victorian has been released from the practice squad.
Underwood, 24, is a veteran of two NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars who signed with the Patriots on Aug. 29, 2011 after being released by Jacksonville. He was released by the Patriots on Sept. 3, 2011 and re-signed on Nov. 8, 2011 before being released again on Nov. 12, 2011. Underwood, 6-1, 183 pounds, originally entered the NFL as a seventh round draft choice (253rd overall) by Jacksonville in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Rutgers. After beginning his rookie season on the practice squad, he joined the 53-man roster and appeared in three games, mainly on special teams. Last season, he played in 10 games and caught eight passes for 111 yards and returned 24 kicks for 561 yards, including a career-long of 53 yards in the season-opener vs. Denver (9/12).
Tarpinian, 24, originally signed with the Patriots on July 27, 2011 as a rookie free agent out of Iowa. He was released by the Patriots on Sept. 12, 2011 and signed to the practice squad on Sept. 14, 2011. Tarpinian, 6-4, 238 pounds, was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Sept. 22 and played in seven games with one start and registered four defensive tackles and eight special teams tackles.
Ventrone, 25, has spent time on both the practice squad and 53-man roster this season, playing in six games. Ventrone, 5-8, 190 pounds, was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Villanova on April 29, 2010. He spent the majority of his rookie season in 2010 on the New England practice squad.
Victorian, 23, has had five stints on the New England practice squad this season. He went to training camp with Baltimore after signing with the Ravens as a rookie free agent out of Louisiana Tech on July 28, 2011. Victorian, 5-10, 190 pounds, originally joined the Patriots practice squad on Sept. 22, 2011.
