FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have signed guard Mitch Petrus to shore up their battered offensive line.
Petrus, released Nov. 3 after playing six games this season with the New York Giants, signed Tuesday after New England's starting guards left Sunday's 37-31 win over the Buffalo Bills with injuries. Logan Mankins hurt his left ankle, and Dan Connolly injured his back.
The Giants drafted Petrus in the fifth round out of Arkansas in 2010. The Carlisle native played 23 games for the defending Super Bowl champions, starting three.
COWBOYS SIGN FRANKLIN
The Dallas Cowboys singed former Arkansas linebacker Jerry Franklin to their practice squad on Wednesday, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Franklin, who led the Razorbacks all four of his seasons from 2008-11, had been on the Carolina Panthers' practice squad this season before being cut earlier this month. The Marion native signed a rookie free agent contract with the Denver Broncos in April.
In Dallas, Franklin joins former Arkansas running back Felix Jones. The former first round pick has rushed for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown this season.
Matt Jones