FOXBORO — The Patriots signed free-agent tight end La’Michael Pettway to their practice squad, filling one of four available spots, Tuesday.

Head coach Bill Belichick said starting tight end Hunter Henry’s knee injury, which kept him from traveling to Denver for the Patriots’ 26-23 win over the Broncos, played a factor in the signing.

“We’ll see how it looks. We worked him out a couple of times during the year,” Belichick said of Pettway. “See how it goes. I mean, Hunter hasn’t practiced, didn’t practice last week. See what his availability is. So, the guys who are playing — Mike and Pharaoh playing a lot of football. Good chance to take a look at him.”

Henry did not practice Wednesday or Thursday last week and was limited on Friday. Gesicki led Patriots tight ends with 38 snaps in Sunday’s game, followed by Brown with 27 snaps. The Patriots also elevated Matt Sokol from the practice squad to play 10 snaps, all as a run blocker.

Pettway, 26, has worked out for the Patriots multiple times over the last two seasons. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound pass-catcher was most recently with the Colts and the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions. He played as a wide receiver at Iowa State and Arkansas and caught 92 passes for 1,277 yards with 11 touchdowns in five seasons.