Patriots sign DE Andre Carter
Former New England Patriots defensive end Andre Carter signed with the team on Tuesday. (Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)
The Patriots brought a familiar face back to New England on Tuesday, as ESPN's Josina Anderson is reporting that the team signed 34-year-old defensive end Andre Carter to help bolster a roster that has seen season-ending injuries to defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and linebacker Jerod Mayo.
Carter, who hasn't played all season after being released by the Oakland Raiders this past August, will return to the Patriots for the first time since he was on the roster in 2011. He was named to the Pro Bowl after that one season with New England, during which he recorded 10 sacks and forced four fumbles.
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Since being selected No. 7 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2001 draft, Carter has shown wildly uneven performances from year to year. He had double-digit sack totals in four seasons but also had five seasons with fewer than five sacks.
News of his return comes just weeks after the Patriots brought him in for a workout in early October.
New England kicks off on Sunday with a Week 8 matchup at home against the Miami Dolphins.
