Griff Whalen to Patriots: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Needing to fill an injury-depleted receiving corps, the New England Patriots have decided to sign Griff Whalen, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Thursday.

Mike Reiss of ESPN.com added the deal is for one year through the end of 2016.

As Reiss noted, the team will ask Whalen to fill the shoes of Danny Amendola, who went down with a high ankle sprain during Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Whalen spent the first part of the year with the San Diego Chargers, playing in eight games but totaling only two catches for 22 yards.

Whalen was released by the Chargers at the end of November in order to make room for running back Ronnie Hillman.

The 26-year-old was one of three receivers New England worked out Thursday, with Jared Abbrederis and Kevin Smith also present, per Doug Kyed of NESN.

Whalen spent his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, totaling 45 catches for 487 yards and three touchdowns in that span. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins in the offseason but failed to make the team out of training camp.

After latching on with the Chargers, he failed to make much of an offensive impact and was eventually released.

On the other hand, Ryan Hannable of WEEI noted an area where Whalen could be useful:

With the Patriots lacking healthy receivers outside of Julian Edelman, Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Hogan, Whalen could be asked to play a big role quickly.