The New England Patriots are bringing back linebacker Bobby Carpenter, who they cut on Sept. 2, reports Tom Curran and Mary Paoletti of Comcast SportsNet New England. The Patriots are bringing in Carpenter in case the hamstring injury rookie LB Dont'a Hightower suffered during New England's Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills causes him to miss any time.

The Patriots selected Hightower with the 25th pick of the 2012 NFL Draft and he has started all four games this season, recording 17 tackles and one sack, as well as returning a fumble for a touchdown.

If Hightower is forced to miss time, New England is comfortable with Carpenter, who spent all of training camp and preseason with the Patriots. Carpenter was a first-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2006, but never reached his potential. Carpenter failed to become a regular starter in his four years with the Cowboys and spent the last three seasons as a reserve with the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions.