FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced today that rookie DE Alex Silvestro has been signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. In addition, the Patriots released WR Tiquan Underwood.
Silvestro, 23, was originally signed by New England as a rookie free agent out of Rutgers on July 27, 2011 and released on Sept. 3, 2011. He joined the New England practice squad on Sept. 28 and then was signed to the 53-man roster on Dec. 23 and saw action in his first NFL game in the victory over Miami on Dec. 24, registering two assisted tackles. Silvestro, 6-3, 267 pounds, was released on Dec. 29 and signed back to the practice squad on Dec. 31.
Underwood, 24, played in five games for New England in 2011 and caught three passes for 30 yards. 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). He was released by Jacksonville on Aug. 25 and was signed by the Patriots on Aug. 29. Underwood was released by the Patriots on Sept. 3 before being signed back on Nov. 24.
