The New England Patriots are having some tight end troubles at the moment. Second year reserve WR/TE Dorin Dickerson was placed on injured reserve Thursday, but more significantly, Rob Gronkowski was held out of practice due to ankle injury. To address the sudden tight end shortage in Super Bowl practices, the Patriots have signed 22-year-old Carson Butler to the practice squad, according to the team's official site.

Butler gives the team some depth as it prepares for the New York Giants over the next week. Don't expect any contribution on the field, however. Butler has bounced around among the Detroit Lions, the San Francisco 49ers, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Giants and the Pats since signing with the Green Bay Packers out of Michigan in 2009.

Butler has yet to record a catch in an official NFL game in his three-year career. While a physical talent, he was rarely used in Rich Rodriguez' spread offense while at Michigan, catching just 20 passes in his most productive season.

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