SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The New England Patriots signed offensive lineman Dan Connolly to their active roster from their practice squad today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Additionally, the Patriots placed linebacker Pierre Woods on the reserve/injured list. Woods will miss the remainder of the 2008 season with a jaw injury.
Connolly, 26, has played in four career games, all with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005. In 2008, Connolly was a member of the Patriots’ active roster for the season’s first five games and was listed as a day-of-game inactive for each game. He was released by the Patriots on Oct. 20, 2008 and was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Oct. 22. Last season, he spent all but the first week of the season on the Patriots practice squad. The 6-foot-4-inch, 313-pound offensive lineman was originally signed by the Jaguars as a rookie free agent out of Southeast Missouri State prior to the 2005 season. After playing in four games as a rookie in 2005, he was placed on the reserve/injured list and missed the entire 2006 season due to injury. He was released by the Jaguars on Sept. 1, 2007 and was signed to the Patriots’ practice squad on Sept. 12, 2007.
Woods, 26, has played in 36 career games with three starts since being signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Michigan on May 8, 2006. The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound linebacker played in the first 12 games of the 2008 season and started three straight games before being injured on Nov. 30 against Pittsburgh. Woods recorded a career-high 27 tackles (20 solo) in 2008, including his first career sack. His 11 special teams tackles lead the team this season. As a rookie in 2006, Woods played in eight games and recorded 11 special teams tackles and two tackles on defense. Last season, Woods played in every game and led the team with 22 special teams tackles while adding a pair of tackles on defense.
