Patriots fourth-year wide receiver Julian Edelman (foot) has been placed on injured reserve, the team announced on Tuesday.

Edelman left the team's Week 13 win over the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter, and was spotted after the game on crutches and in a walking boot.

He had carved a role as the team's third wide receiver, and was playing his best football of the season prior to the injury. Edelman scored a special-teams touchdown in consecutive games in November, including a Week 12 punt return for a touchdown against the Colts.

To beef up the wide-receiving corps, the team officially signed wide receiver Donte' Stallworth to the active roster. This marks the third time Stallworth has been signed by the Patriots and second time in 2012, as he was released at the conclusion of training camp after being added this past offseason in free agency.

In addition, the Patriots announced that veteran offensive lineman Mitch Petrus has been released, and that the team added offensive linemen Tommie Draheim and Colin Miller to the practice squad.

Petrus played in two games for the Patriots as a reserve lineman after being signed on Nov. 13.

Draheim was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2012 out of San Diego State. He was released following training camp and later spent time as a member of the Seattle Seahawks practice squad.

Miller, a fellow undrafted free agent, originally entered the league in 2011 with the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Central Michigan. He was most recently a member of the Raiders practice squad.