The Sports Xchange

The New England Patriots claimed safety Dewey McDonald off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts, placed linebacker Rufus Johnson on the non-football illness list, signed defensive backs Floyd Raven Sr. and Ross Ventrone to the practice squad and released defensive back Brandon Dixon from the practice squad on Wednesday.

The Colts released McDonald on Wednesday. The 25-year-old played in 12 games for Indianapolis last season and finished with 13 tackles on special teams. He began this season on the practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster and playing last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Johnson, 25, was inactive for five games this season but played in his first NFL game on Sept. 20 against the Buffalo Bills, making one tackle.

Ventrone was on the Patriots’ practice squad and 53-man roster in 2010 and 2011. Raven, 22, signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals in May and was released Sept. 5. Ventrone, 29, played on special teams for the Pittsburgh Steelers in five games this season before his release on Oct. 13.

The Patriots signed Dixon, 25, to the practice squad on Oct. 1. Dixon was released by Tampa Bay on Sept. 4 and was on the practice squads in Seattle and Indianapolis.