Damien Harris will be sidelined through the first three weeks of the 2020 regular season.
The New England Patriots officially placed the running back on injured reserve Monday, and elevated undrafted rookie J.J. Taylor to the 53-man roster from the 16-man practice squad.
The transactions were first reported by Field Yates of ESPN.
Harris, a third-round pick out of Alabama last spring, had been a recent absence at Patriots practice after reportedly undergoing finger surgery. The 23-year-old back will be eligible to return to the active roster before October. In the meantime, his spot on the active depth chart goes to the 5-foot-6, 185-pound Taylor, who was signed to the practice squad during its formation on Sunday afternoon upon clearing waivers.