EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings have added some depth and a familiar face at defensive end.

Minnesota announced Thursday that it has added Tashawn Bower to its 53-man roster, bringing the 26-year-old back to the place where he began his NFL career.

The Vikings signed Bower off the Patriots practice squad, a move permitted if a player is joining the new team's 53-man roster.

Minnesota is thin at defensive end due to multiple factors.

Danielle Hunter is out for the season with a torn pec, and Everson Griffen was dealing with a personal matter on Wednesday. Griffen and second-year man D.J. Wonnum have been the starters since Hunter went down.

The Vikings also have Eddie Yarbrough and rookie Patrick Jones II on the active roster, plus Kenny Willekes on the practice squad.

Bower first joined the Vikings in the spring of 2017 as an undrafted free agent out of LSU.

He appeared in seven total games with the Vikings, recording a sack against the Rams in Week 11 of the 2017 season.

Bower was released midway through the 2019 season and soon joined New England's practice squad.

He played in nine games in 2020 and 2021 with the Patriots, making three starts and recording a sack and a pass defensed.

Bower has played 232 total defensive snaps in his NFL career.

The team also activated FB Jake Bargas from the Practice Squad Reserve / Covid-19 list.