The Patriots worked out five players today, including a trio of running backs -- Maurice Hicks, Marcus Mason and Thomas Brown, according to league sources.

Chad Wiestling, the agent for both Hicks and Mason, also confirmed their workouts.

The other two players the Patriots reported working out to the league were tight ends Rob Myers and Buck Ortega.

However, New England is not expected to sign any of the players this week.

Hicks, 31, is a six-year NFL veteran who last played for the Minnesota Vikings in 2008. In 66 career games with Chicago (2002), San Francisco (2004-07) and Minnesota, Hicks has 205 rushes for 869 yards and six touchdowns and 55 receptions for 424 yards and a TD.

He is also an experienced kickoff returner. In 2007, he broke his own 49ers single-season record with 1,502 kickoff return yards, while averaging 23.8 yards per return. He averaged the same number for the Vikings last season in 11 games.

Mason, who has practice squad eligibility, was released by the Washington Redskins on Oct. 20. He played in four games for the Redskins and had six carries for 19 yards. He also faced the Patriots during the preseason and had eight rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Brown was a sixth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2008 and has no career stats. He also has practice squad eligibility.

The Patriots have eight players on their practice squad, which is the league limit. One of those players is tight end Robbie Agnone. There are no running backs on the practice squad.

With Sammy Morris nursing a knee injury and Fred Taylor recovering from surgery to repair ligament damage in his right ankle, the Patriots are down to three healthy running backs -- Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.