A sixth wide receiver will be available for the New England Patriots against the Houston Texans.
New England has elevated Donte Moncrief to the gameday roster in advance of Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at NRG Stadium, according to the NFL transaction wire.
Moncrief, 27, signed to the practice squad on Nov. 4 after beginning the regular season with the New York Jets. He is scheduled to revert back on Monday.
The 6-foot-2, 216-pound target out of Ole Miss has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers since entering the league in the third round of the 2014 draft. Through 77 appearances and 43 starts, Moncrief’s résumé includes 204 receptions for 2,561 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Fellow wideouts Damiere Byrd, Jakobi Meyers, Isaiah Ford, Gunner Olszewski and N’Keal Harry, who is listed as questionable due to a shoulder injury, also made the trip to Houston.
As did running back Sony Michel and linebacker Terez Hall amid a series of 53-man moves reported earlier Saturday.
In addition, the Patriots have signed veteran defensive tackle and recent free-agent visitor Akeem Spence to the practice squad.
Spence, 28, joins fellow interior defensive linemen Nick Thurman and Bill Murray on the scout team of 16. The 6-foot-1, 303-pound Illinois product has appeared in 103 career games dating back to his arrival in the fourth round of the 2013 draft.
Over stops with the Tampa Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles and aforementioned Jaguars, Spence stands with 195 tackles, 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble and four recoveries.