FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – The New England Patriots on Tuesday re-signed free agent offensive tackle Tom Ashworth, who missed the second half of last season and the playoffs with a back injury.

The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Ashworth started 13 regular-season games during the 2003 season, and all three playoff games, including a 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl.

He started the first six games last season before being placed on injured reserve with a back injury on Nov. 6. He has played in 23 games with 19 starts during his career.

Ashworth, 27, was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers in April 2001 as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado. The Patriots signed him to their practice squad in September 2001 and he has been with the team since.

The team did not disclose terms of the deal.

A call to Ashworth’s agent was not immediately returned on Tuesday evening.

AP-ES-03-15-05 2001EST