Patriots reportedly sign rookie linebacker Cassh Maluia to 53-man roster on eve of season finale

The New England Patriots have signed linebacker Cassh Maluia to the 53-man roster leading up to Sunday’s finale versus the New York Jets, according to Doug Kyed of NESN.com.

Maluia, 22, twice served as a standard elevation from the practice squad during his rookie season. The sixth-round draft choice out of Wyoming had reverted after taking the field for New England’s 38-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.

Now under contract through 2021, Maluia has appeared in a total of eight games for the Patriots. He stands with eight snaps on defense and 72 snaps on special teams over that span.

New England moved Josh Uche and Tashawn Bower to injured reserve on New Year’s Eve. And on New Year’s Day, fellow linebackers in Anfernee Jennings and Terez Hall missed their third consecutive practice. They would be listed as questionable on the final Week 17 injury report alongside Shilique Calhoun off the edges and captain Ja’Whaun Bentley in the middle of the defense.

Per Kyed, the Patriots are also elevating offensive lineman Ross Reynolds from the practice squad for Sunday.

Reynolds, 25, entered the league with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and joined the New England scout team at the end of November. The Iowa product’s promotion comes after center David Andrews and right guard Shaq Mason were both ruled out due to calf injuries.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.