With their first playoff appearance in four years on the horizon, the New England Patriots aren’t wasting any time fine-tuning their roster. Tuesday brought a flurry of moves - some expected, some strategic - as the team looks to solidify depth and navigate a growing list of injuries heading into the most important stretch of the season.
Let’s break down what went down and what it means for a Patriots team trying to stay sharp and healthy at just the right time.
DT Milton Williams: Designated to Return from Injured Reserve
**The clock is ticking. **
Milton Williams hasn’t been activated yet, but the Patriots officially opened his 21-day practice window. That gives them until January 13 to bring him back to the 53-man roster.
If they don’t, he’ll remain on injured reserve and be out for the rest of the season. So while he’s not back in uniform just yet, the wheels are in motion.
**Roster ripple effect incoming. **
Once Williams is ready to go - and that could come as soon as this week - the team will need to make room for him. That means either cutting a player or placing someone else on IR.
At this point in the season, every roster spot is gold, and Williams’ return will force a tough decision.
**Help can’t come soon enough. **
With Joshua Farmer now on IR and Khyiris Tonga nursing a foot injury, the Patriots’ interior defensive line is running thin. Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, and Eric Gregory are the only healthy DTs on the active roster.
Getting Williams back on the field would be a huge boost - not just to patch the depth chart, but to stabilize a front that’s suddenly taken some hits.
DT Joshua Farmer: Placed on Injured Reserve
**A tough blow for the D-line. **
Farmer’s hamstring injury sends him to IR, and by rule, he’ll miss at least four games. That includes the final two regular-season matchups and the Patriots’ first playoff game - whether that’s in the Wild Card or Divisional round.
His availability beyond that depends on two things: how far New England goes and how quickly he can recover.
**Depth is getting tested. **
With Farmer out and Tonga banged up, the Patriots are left with just three healthy defensive tackles on the active roster. They do have some reserves stashed on the practice squad - Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Leonard Taylor, and Fabien Lovett - and one of them could be elevated for Sunday’s game against the Jets if Williams isn’t ready to go.
OL Brenden Jaimes: Signed to the 53-Man Roster
**A curious move - at first glance. **
Replacing a defensive tackle with an offensive lineman might seem odd, especially with the D-line so thin. But this is likely tied to Jared Wilson entering concussion protocol.
If Wilson can’t go, Ben Brown would slide into the starting left guard spot, and Jaimes becomes a key depth piece behind him.
**Why Jaimes? Experience.
**
The 26-year-old lineman has suited up for 48 career games, logging 274 offensive snaps and three starts.
That’s not a massive résumé, but it’s more than what developmental lineman Caedan Wallace brings to the table. Jaimes also offers more positional flexibility, having played all three interior spots - a valuable trait when injuries hit this late in the season.
OL Ben Brown: Signed to a Two-Year Extension
**Locking in stability. **
Brown was set to hit restricted free agency this spring, but the Patriots moved early to keep him in the fold. The new deal is worth about $5 million over two years - a reasonable price for a player who’s proven he can step in and handle starting duties when needed.
**Smart cap management. **
Instead of using a restricted free agent tender - which could’ve cost the Patriots upwards of $3.5 million for just one year - they now get two years of team control at a better value. It’s a cost-effective way to retain depth and continuity on the offensive line without overcommitting.
RB Elijah Mitchell & WR Brandon Smith: Signed to Practice Squad
**Injury insurance, plain and simple. **
With Jared Wilson, TreVeyon Henderson, and Kayshon Boutte all in concussion protocol, the Patriots are bracing for potential absences. Mitchell and Smith give them added depth at two positions suddenly in flux.
If Henderson and Boutte can’t suit up against the Jets, these new additions could be in uniform on game day.
**Mitchell could be the next man up. **
While Smith is likely behind other practice squad receivers in the pecking order, Mitchell is one to watch. He’s played in 35 NFL games and could be called upon if the team needs a fourth healthy back behind Rhamondre Stevenson, D’Ernest Johnson, and Jashaun Corbin.
**A subtle sign of health elsewhere. **
To make room for Mitchell and Smith, the Patriots released offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez from the practice squad. That move suggests the team feels confident about the health of Morgan Moses and Thayer Munford Jr., both of whom left the Ravens game banged up.
If there were lingering concerns, Gutierrez might still be around.
Final Thoughts
The Patriots are heading into Week 17 with momentum and a playoff berth in sight, but the roster is feeling the wear and tear of a long season. Tuesday’s moves weren’t flashy, but they were calculated - a mix of injury management, depth insurance, and forward-looking roster planning.
Milton Williams’ return could be a game-changer for a defensive line in need of reinforcements. Brenden Jaimes and Ben Brown give the offensive line some much-needed stability. And the practice squad additions show the Patriots are staying nimble, ready to adapt as injuries unfold.
This is the time of year when depth matters just as much as star power. And with the postseason looming, New England’s front office is making sure the team is equipped to handle whatever comes next.