FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – The New England Patriots offense is still coming together in many ways, with so many new players trying to establish their roles.

Sammy Morris already knows exactly what he was signed to do.

With top running back Laurence Maroney recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Morris provided the only touchdown in Friday’s 13-10 preseason loss to Tampa Bay on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.

Morris scored only one touchdown in each of his last two seasons in Miami, but the 6-foot, 220-pound back considers himself a short-yardage runner, a role he’ll fill with the Patriots with the offseason release of Corey Dillon.

“Down there I think it’s a different mentality,” Morris said Sunday. “It’s crunch time when you’re down there. You try to shoot for six. That’s my mentality, do what I have to do to get in the end zone.”

The eight-year veteran, who signed as a free agent in the offseason, had nine carries for 27 yards against the Buccaneers.

“Obviously, it starts up front,” said Morris, with his third team after stints in Buffalo and Miami.

“They had a great surge up front and (fullback) Heath (Evans) ran through there and cleared it out. The way the goal line is set up, you can’t block everybody. But the guys that we could get blocked were blocked and the guys who were left free, they put the onus on the runner. I was able to squeeze it in there.”

In addition to Maroney, the Patriots were missing receivers Randy Moss, Donte’ Stallworth, Troy Brown and Chad Jackson against the Buccaneers. Their top three tight ends – Benjamin Watson, Kyle Brady and David Thomas – also sat out with injuries.

“It’s early,” Brady said of the absences. “These things happen in training camp. You just have to keep plugging and do whatever you’re capable of doing.”

Morris is no stranger to the Patriots, having spent his entire career in the AFC East. In December, he rushed for a career-high 123 yards against the Patriots.

Morris figures to back up Maroney, who rushed for 745 yards as rookie last season while sharing the load with Dillon.

Veteran Kevin Faulk, who had a team-high three catches against Tampa Bay, is also in the mix.

“We’re focused on the guys who we have out there right now. Kevin and Heath and myself, we’re trying to do what we have to do and create our own little niche,” Morris said.

Patriots sign TE Jones, release TE Kranchick

The New England Patriots signed free agent tight end Brian Jones and released tight end Matt Kranchick on Sunday.

The 6-foot-3, 258-pound Jones was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004 and had nine receptions for 146 yards and a touchdowns in his first two seasons. He missed all of last season on injured reserve with a knee injury.

The 6-7, 260-pound Kranchick, the Pittsburgh Steelers sixth-round draft pick in 2004, was signed to the Patriots practice squad on Dec. 13 and signed to the active roster on Jan. 23.

he has one career reception for six yards.

He was also on the New York Giants roster.