Patriots Promote Rookie Tight End From Practice Squad To 53-Man Roster

The injuries are piling up for the New England Patriots. With a record of 9-2, the Patriots are one of only a few teams in the NFL that have not had their bye week yet. That bye week will not come until Week 14, the latest possible date.

The Patriots saw several key pieces sidelined last Thursday against the New York Jets, including receiver Kayshon Boutte, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and tight end Austin Hooper.

In a potentially related move, the Patriots on Monday signed undrafted rookie tight end C.J. Dippre from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. The transaction potentially indicates Hooper remains in concussion protocol; however, it’s equally likely the Patriots promoted Dippre to prevent him from being poached from the practice squad.

Moreover, with Jack Westover being used like a traditional fullback, the Patriots played the first 11 games without a true third tight end on the roster. Dippre could address that need.

Dippre, a 6-foot-5 undrafted rookie out of Alabama, was signed by head coach Mike Vrabel’s staff just hours after the 2025 NFL Draft ended.

During his two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Dippre recorded a respectable 443 receiving yards. The tight end was praised for his blocking ability, as he anchored Alabama’s creative running attack led by quarterback Jalen Milroe.

At the NFL combine, the 256-pounder ran a 4.69 forty-yard dash and finished in first place among all participating tight ends with 32 reps of the 225-pound bench press, six more than the next prospect.

Dippre now could make his NFL debut against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are playing the worst defense in the NFL and are the only team to have allowed more than 400 yards per game this season.