Patriots trade for two defensive linemen, including Packers' Jerel Worthy

The New England Patriots, seeking to bolster their injury-compromised defensive line, pulled off two trades to help bolster the unit. The biggest name coming to Foxborough is Jerel Worthy, a former second-round pick, from the Green Bay Packers.

Several outlets reported that the Patriots will ship a late-round pick, likely in 2015, to Green Bay for Worthy if he makes the team.

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The Patriots already have Tommy Kelly (ACL) and Vince Wilfork (Achilles) coming off major injuries last season, and their first-round pick, Dominique Easley, suffered a torn ACL early last season and was just activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. In addition, Sealver Siliga (left hand) and Chris Jones (left ankle), who were expected to be in the DT rotation, are dealing with injuries now.

The Packers traded up for Worthy, a unanimous All-American defensive lineman at Michigan State, in 2012 with the No. 51 pick overall. He got off to a promising start as a rookie before suffering a season-ending ACL injury in the finale that year. Worthy then missed a big chunk of the 2013 season and is coming off back surgery from April, which has kept him out of action all of training camp.

Worthy will need to pass a physical for the trade to go through. He likely would play inside in the Patriots' scheme at tackle, having played end in the Packers' 3-4 system.

The Patriots also sent cornerback Justin Green to the Dallas Cowboys for defensive tackle Ben Bass, a rare player-for-player swap in the middle of training camp. Green has promise but couldn't crack the Patriots' deep cornerback crop. Bass has been set back by injuries in Dallas, including a shoulder injury last year and a hamstring problem this summer.

The last time the Patriots made two different trades on the same day was also in training camp — July 29, 2011. That was the day they acquired Albert Haynesworth from the Washington Redskins and Chad Johnson (then Ochocinco) from the Cincinnati Bengals. This twin-trade day doesn't have the same name-value oomph as that one, but the Patriots have to hope it turns out better than either of those two 2011 moves did.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm