The New England Patriots are moving into the next phase of roster-building, and the 53-man group is only part of the picture. After this weekend’s cuts, the focus shifts to the practice squad, where the team can start stocking up on depth for the 2026 season.
For players who cleared waivers, the practice squad offers another path to stay in the building. That makes a few of the names New England let go this weekend immediate possibilities to circle, including running back Lan Larison and center Jacob Rizy.
The Patriots can carry 16 players on the practice squad. If they choose to add an international player, such as offensive tackle Lorenz Metz, who was released this weekend, that number can go up to 17. Those players can be elevated to the active roster three times on game day before they’d be subject to waivers during the regular season.
Mike Vrabel made clear after the preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns last week that some of the cuts could end up back with the team. "Some of these players that we move on from, we'll bring back on the practice squad," Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said following the team's preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns last week. "These guys, they gave us everything they had."
The Patriots could also stay active on the waiver wire, just as they did last year. As the week unfolds, this tracker will follow every update tied to New England’s practice squad heading into Week 1 of the NFL season.
In Other News...
Patriots May Have Found The Missing Piece In Their Backfield
With Terrell Jennings and Lan Larison dealing with injuries and Jam Miller no longer in the mix, the Patriots had a clear need to add some depth to their backfield. They answered it by sending a 2028 seventh-round pick to Arizona for running back Corey Kiner, a move that gives the roster another option behind the top two runners and helps stabilize a position that had been thinned out quickly.
Kiner arrives with a reputation as a versatile back, the kind of player who can give New England something useful in multiple situations if he settles in quickly. The bigger question now is how much of a role he can carve out right away, but the Patriots at least found a practical answer to an immediate problem while keeping the cost low. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Have A Real Week 1 Backfield Concern
The Patriots went into camp expecting Rhamondre Stevenson to head the backfield and TreVeyon Henderson to give the offense a different kind of burst, but the plan has gotten a little shakier as the opener approaches. Stevenson remains positioned as the lead back, while Corey Kiner also sits in the mix, and Hendersons status has become the part of the equation worth watching most closely.
Henderson is working back from an ankle injury he suffered late in training camp, and while he has been around team activities, his return timetable is still not clear. New England appears content to be cautious with him for now, which makes sense this time of year but also leaves the Patriots with a legitimate Week 1 backfield question until his availability comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Leave Key Practice Squad Spots Open For Familiar Names
The Patriots filled out most of their initial practice squad with a dozen additions, but they still left five spots open as roster-building after cutdown day continues to take shape. An International Pathway Player joined the group without counting against the 16-man limit, while veteran punter Mitch Wishnowsky landed on the practice squad after Bryce Baringer was placed on injured reserve.
For a team always fine-tuning the back end of the roster, the open slots leave room for familiar faces and practical depth at spots where injuries can quickly force movement. New England already has help lined up at offensive line, wide receiver and running back, and a few more players are either working back from injury or expected to arrive soon, so the final version of the practice squad may still look a little different before long. [Read more 🡒]