Dan Koppen, Myron Pryor to IR; DL Cohen, DB Adams Signed

The Patriots have made a flurry of roster moves this Wednesday afternoon, placing center Dan Koppen and defensive lineman Myron Pryor on injured reserve and signing defensive lineman Landon Cohen and defensive back Phillip Adams to the active roster.

The biggest news here is that Dan Koppen has been placed on injured reserve.  Although he broke his leg in the season opener, the general sentiment was that the Patriots would hold on to his roster spot for as long as possible so that he could return later in the year.  Therefore, this means that the Patriots either felt that their depth was stretched too thin to justify a roster spot for Koppen, or that after re-evaluating the situation, the felt Koppen wouldn't be able to return in 2011.

Of course, the next question is: what does this mean for Koppen's future with the Patriots.  It's hard to tell at this point.  Koppen is a free agent after the year, and Dan Connolly has looked pretty good at the center spot thus far.  I could see the Patriots going either way with Koppen.  He's still a solid player who is an above-average starting center in the NFL.  Perhaps he takes a "hometown" discount to remain with the club.

The Patriots also have announced that defensive lineman Myron Pryor will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.  Losing Pryor is a blow to the depth of the Patriots' defensive line.  Pryor was a top pass rusher at defensive tackle in sub-packages, and he was producing havoc in the first two games for the Patriots.  Pryor is signed through 2012, so expect him back next season.

To fill the two spots left vacant by the injuries to Dan Koppen and Myron Pryor, the Patriots signed defensive lineman Landon Cohen and defensive back Phillip Adams.  

Adams, 23, was a seventh round pick of the 49ers in 2010.  He played in fifteen games with the team last year, coming up with 13 tackles and one pass defensed.  The 5'11", 193 lbs Adams was a victim of final cutdowns by the 49ers earlier this month.

Landon Cohen, 25, originally signed with the Patriots late last season after spending his first two years in the league as a member of the Detroit Lions.  Cohen played in two games for the Patriots, starting one, and picked up three tackles.  After being cut by the Patriots in final cutdowns this month, Cohen was claimed by the Seattle Seahawks off of waivers.  He didn't appear in a game for the Seahawks, and was waived on September 10th.  Cohen should provide good depth along the defensive line for the Patriots, and already has part of 2010 and 2011 training camp under his belt.