As the Patriots come off their bye week, they’re making a familiar move in the trenches - bringing back a young lineman who’s already seen the inside of the building.
New England has re-signed guard Mehki Butler to the practice squad, giving the undrafted rookie another shot to develop under the team’s watchful eye. Butler, 24, worked out for the team last week, and now he’s back in Foxborough, looking to pick up where he left off.
At 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, Butler first caught the Patriots’ attention during rookie minicamp in May, where he earned a spot on the 90-man roster as a tryout player. He logged 52 offensive snaps in the preseason - a decent chunk for a rookie fighting for a foothold - but was waived during final cuts in August. He went unclaimed and initially landed on New England’s practice squad, only to be released ahead of Week 2.
Butler’s path to the NFL has been anything but conventional. He was a standout at Iowa Western Community College, earning NJCAA first-team All-America honors before transferring to Arkansas State.
After redshirting in 2021, he became a mainstay on the Red Wolves’ offensive line, starting 38 games on the left side. That kind of experience - even at the Group of Five level - gives him a solid foundation to build on.
To make room for Butler, the Patriots released guard Bill Murray from the practice squad. Murray, 28, is no stranger to the team either.
He returned to New England in late November after a workout led to a short stint back on the practice squad. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of William & Mary in 2020, Murray spent three full seasons on the Patriots’ practice squad and was elevated to the game-day roster twice during that stretch.
In 2023, Murray made a brief stop with the Chicago Bears, where he appeared in three games and played 43 snaps between offense and special teams. The 6-foot-4, 321-pound lineman began his career as a defensive tackle before transitioning to the offensive line - a switch that speaks to his versatility, even if it hasn’t yet landed him a permanent roster spot. He became a free agent in September after reaching an injury settlement.
With the roster shuffle complete, the Patriots turn their focus to a big test ahead. They’ll host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, as Mike Vrabel’s 11-2 squad looks to keep rolling in a tightly contested AFC playoff picture.