The New England Patriots headed toward Raymond James Stadium with veteran reinforcements.
The organization elevated running back D’Ernest Johnson and linebacker Darius Harris from the practice squad on the eve
of Sunday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Johnson, 29, has now gotten the call-up for consecutive games after signing in Foxborough at the end of October. The vested running back debuted back deep on five kickoff returns last week versus the Atlanta Falcons. He did so while rounding out an active backfield depth chart led by rookie TreVeyon Henderson and recent 53-man roster promotion Terrell Jennings.
A South Florida alum who went undrafted in 2018, Johnson set out with the Alliance of American Football’s Orlando Apollos the following year. The 5-foot-10, 208-pounder has since been a member of the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals on the way to appearing in 97 NFL games. Logging three starts as well as three touchdowns, he stands with 215 carries for 989 yards and 53 catches for 467 yards. The former FedEx Ground Player of the Week’s career includes 920 snaps on offense and 946 snaps on special teams.
Harris, 29, previously served as an elevation in September versus the Carolina Panthers, notching a pair of tackles across 16 snaps on special teams before reverting. The 6-foot-2, 238-pound linebacker joined the practice squad shortly after its formation.
Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Harris made previous stops with the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys. The Middle Tennessee product has appeared in 38 games, including six starts on defense. His run includes 61 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries. He also has taken the field for seven playoff games en route to winning three Super Bowls.
Three standard elevations are permitted under league rules. Both vets now have one remaining.
New England ruled out running back Rhamondre Stevenson, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and linebacker Christian Elliss on the final injury report. The three starters remained sidelined throughout preparations for Tampa Bay due to toe, hamstring and hip injuries, respectively.
Sunday’s kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.
