The New England Patriots’ first practice squad of the 2026 season is starting to take shape, and it’s built heavily from players who were already in the building.
The team officially announced 12 additions to its developmental roster, and 11 of them were cut by the Patriots just before the NFL roster deadline. The one exception is a free-agent pickup who spent the summer in Buffalo and could wind up with a meaningful role for the reigning AFC East champions early in the year.
Here’s the initial group:
Practice squad (11): RB Hassan Haskins, RB Lan Larison, WR Kyle Dixon, WR Cameron Dorner, OL Jacob Rizy, DT Eric Gregory, DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr., LB Riley Wilson, CB Kindle Vildor, S Mike Brown, P Mitch Wishnowsky
Practice squad exempt (1): OT Lorenz Metz
There’s not much mystery in the first wave of signings. Haskins and Larison were both on the fringe of the roster, and their paths got tougher after the recent trade for Corey Kiner. Gregory made a strong push to stick as an interior defensive line backup, while Vildor at times looked like New England’s fourth or fifth corner this summer.
For now, those players and several other depth options are staying in the organization through the practice squad. Five spots remain open, and because Lorenz Metz has an exemption tied to his international status, it would not be a shock if more of the weekend’s cuts eventually circle back.
One name also expected to enter the picture soon is interior offensive lineman Jake Kubas. He spent the last two seasons with the Giants, started three games, and is reportedly set to be added in the near future, though he was not part of Monday’s announcement.
The only true outside addition so far is Mitch Wishnowsky.
Wishnowsky is 34 and originally came into the league as a fourth-round pick by the 49ers in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Utah product played his first six seasons in San Francisco before later stops in Washington and Buffalo. In New England, he’s there to help cover for Bryce Baringer.
Baringer had made the initial 53-man roster, but a preseason injury raised questions about his Week 1 availability. He has since been placed on injured reserve, which keeps him out for at least four weeks and gives Wishnowsky a real chance to handle the job early in the season.
In Other News...
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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 🡒]