FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots have announced today that OL Thomas Welch has been signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. In addition, the Patriots released S Ross Ventrone.
Welch was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on September 12, 2011 prior to the season-opener at Miami and saw his first NFL action against the Dolphins. He was released from the 53-man roster on September 14 and signed to the practice squad on September 15.
Welch, 6-7, 310 pounds, was originally selected by the Patriots in the seventh round (208th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Vanderbilt. After being released by the Patriots on Sept. 4, 2010 be was signed to the Minnesota practice squad on Sept. 6, 2010. He was signed to the Minnesota 53-man roster on December 14 but was inactive for the final three games of the season. Welch was released by Minnesota on September. 3, 2011 and then was signed to the Patriots practice squad.
Ventrone, 5-8, 190 pounds, was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on September 24, 2011 and made his NFL debut against Buffalo last Sunday. He was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Villanova on April 29, 2010. He was waived by the Patriots on Sept. 4, 2010 and then signed to the practice squad on Oct. 19, 2010 where he finished the season. Ventrone went to camp with the Patriots in 2011 before being released on August 10 and then re-signed on August 29. He was signed to the practice squad on September 5, 2011.
