The Patriots added two edge rushers to their Tuesday workout list as they continue sorting through depth ahead of their Bills matchup.
Outside linebackers Victor Dimukeje and Eric Watts were in for tryouts in New England, though neither was signed right away. The Patriots do have room to make moves, with two open spots on the 53-man roster and one vacancy on the practice squad.
Dimukeje, 26, came into the league as a sixth-round pick from Duke in 2021. He began his NFL run with the Cardinals and played in 55 games across four seasons, working as a core special teamer and part-time edge rusher while piling up 67 tackles and four sacks.
He then spent time with the Giants in 2025, but injuries limited him to five games. His brief stint with the 49ers this summer ended earlier this month when the 6-foot-2, 250-pound defender was released with an injury settlement.
Watts, 25, took a different path after playing at UConn and entering the league as a rookie free agent in 2024. He started with the Jets and appeared in 18 games over two seasons, finishing with 23 tackles. The 6-foot-5, 277-pound defender was released by the organization in August with an injury settlement.
New England’s current edge group is still a work in progress. The team has four edge defenders on the roster and two more on the practice squad, but only three of them were active in last week’s 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Elijah Ponder and Gabe Jacas handled most of the defensive snaps, while Jose Ramirez came in late.
Dre’Mont Jones sat out with a shoulder injury, and Xavier Holmes and Benton Whitley were not elevated from the practice squad. Harold Landry and Quintayvious Hutchins are on the PUP and injure reserve lists, respectively, and can return after Weeks 4 and 6.
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