FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots' depth on the defensive line and special teams took a hit yesterday, as third-year veteran Mike Wright was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
A backup nose tackle and member of the kickoff return unit, the 25-year-old Wright sustained a foot injury, presumably in last Sunday's game against the Steelers. He was on the field for 15 plays in the first half but did not play in the second.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 295-pound Wright served as the primary backup to nose tackle Vince Wilfork in the 3-4 defense. He also played end, and his absence bumps second-year player Le Kevin Smith - a 2006 sixth-round draft choice out of Nebraska - up the depth chart.
The Patriots, who hosted veteran free agents Bobby Hamilton and Rashad Moore for workouts Wednesday, now have just five defensive linemen on their 53-man roster.
Wilfork starts in the middle alongside ends Ty Warren and Richard Seymour, although Seymour has acknowledged he is not yet 100 percent recovered from offseason knee surgery. When approached yesterday and asked about the leg, Seymour declined comment, saying he didn't want to talk about himself.
Jarvis Green is the top reserve, and now Smith steps up a notch.
The Patriots had been carrying rookie fourth-round draft choice Kareem Brown, a defensive end, on the roster for much of the season. But Brown was waived Nov. 27 to make room for veteran receiver Troy Brown, who was coming off the physically unable to perform list.
In a pinch, the team could also turn to Santonio Thomas, a first-year player on the practice squad who has filled in admirably when called upon. Adalius Thomas, who has been used as a down lineman in pass-rushing situations, is capable of playing defensive end in a 4-3.
Wright played in nine games this season, with one start, and was credited with 12 tackles (9 solo). He is the seventh player to be placed on IR since the start of training camp, joining linebackers Rosevelt Colvin and Oscar Lua, running back Sammy Morris, cornerbacks Mike Richardson and Chad Scott, and tight end David Thomas.
A little of everything
When the Patriots call on their nickel or dime defenses, with five or six defensive backs, it has been commonplace to see safety Rodney Harrison drop down into a linebacker-like role.To linebacker Junior Seau, it's another example of what makes Harrison so valuable.
"Rodney can step in the box and play a linebacker-like role; he's proven that throughout his career," Seau said. "We like to have him in the box, but more importantly, he runs all over the field. You never know whether he's going to be a DB, a safety, or a linebacker. He does a good job out there."
Harrison, who has been credited with 53 tackles by the coaches, believes his linebacker-like role is reflective of how the Patriots try different things with different players.
"We have versatile players here; it's not just me," said Harrison, pointing to the likes of Adalius Thomas and Mike Vrabel. "That's part of the scheme here, whether it calls for me to be back deep, over a tight end, or sticking a slot wide receiver man-to-man. That's just part of our whole program here. It's something I have to do and I don't mind doing it."
TE Spach signs
Prior to yesterday, the Patriots were one of just five teams in the NFL to carry only two tight ends on their 53-man roster. But the team bolstered its ranks, signing second-year man Stephen Spach to an undisclosed contract.The 6-4, 250-pound Spach joins Benjamin Watson and Kyle Brady. Watson injured his left ankle last Sunday and missed eight plays before returning to the game. He remained limited in yesterday's practice.
The signing of Spach provides insurance if Watson is not ready to play Sunday against the Jets.
Spach, 25, entered the league as a rookie free agent with the Eagles in 2005. He played 13 games that season and finished with seven catches for 42 yards. Cut before the season in 2006, Spach spent the year out of football. He attempted to hook on with the Vikings this year, but was cut at the end of training camp and had not signed with another team.
Taste of the elements
The Patriots held practice inside Gillette Stadium in snowy conditions.With the possibility of snow in the forecast for Sunday, the elements gave players a chance to familiarize themselves with the FieldTurf surface in those conditions. The Patriots have not played a snow game on the FieldTurf, which was installed in November 2006.
The conditions also had players reflecting on playing in the snow.
Seau, now in his 18th season, recalled the first NFL game he played in snow. It came in his third year in the NFL, while he was with the Chargers, on the road against Bill Belichick's Cleveland Browns.
"In the Dog [Pound], those guys were really rowdy. It was definitely something that was new to me. It was fun," said Seau, a California native who has spent the majority of his career in warm-weather climates with the Chargers (1990-2002) and Dolphins (2003-05). "We won [14-13], and that's the reason why it was fun, but it was a different scene and the traction was a big part."
The 38-year-old Seau joked that a slippery surface might play to his advantage.
"The traction is going to be a big difference, so therefore, it's going to slow a lot of these fast guys down, which is good for me. As old as I am, I probably could catch them," he cracked.
Laurels for line
After holding the Steelers without a sack and with quarterback Tom Brady absorbing just four quarterback hits despite a steady diet of blitzes, the Patriots' offensive line was given game balls . . . Reserve offensive lineman Billy Yates (foot) did not practice, while starting right guard Stephen Neal (shoulder), starting safety James Sanders (knee), and Vrabel (thigh), who walked through the locker room favoring his left leg, were also limited . . . Quarterback Matt Cassel, receiver Chad Jackson, offensive lineman Ryan O'Callaghan, linebacker Chad Brown, practice squad safety Ray Ventrone, and practice squad cornerback Tim Mixon were the practice players of the week, selected for best helping the team prepare for the Steelers . . . The Jets had no changes to their injury report.Christopher L. Gasper of the Globe staff contributed to this report; Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.
