The Patriots kept working long after they trimmed their roster to 53, and the practice squad is quickly taking shape as the next wave of depth moves comes in.
That was always the expectation after a hectic weekend of cuts and the added complication of players headed to injured reserve or the PUP list, which will keep them out for at least the first four games. Once CB Marcellas Dial was the only player the Patriots cut who got claimed, the path back for most of the others looked pretty clear.
And early signs point that way.
New England has already begun filling out the practice squad with familiar names and a few useful insurance pieces. The list includes:
- Jeremiah Pharms Jr., DT
- Lorenz Metz, OT
- Mitch Wishnowsky, P
- Hassan Haskins, RB
- Jacob Rizy, C
- Riley Wilson, LB
NFL insider Ian Rapoport first reported the Patriots’ plan to sign punter Mitch Wishnowsky to the practice squad, a move that hints Bryce Baringer is still day-to-day after getting hurt before last week’s preseason finale. Even beyond the injury situation, it makes sense for New England to have another punter in the building after Baringer’s uneven 2025 season.
Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reported that Jeremiah Pharms Jr. is set to return as well, giving the Patriots another body for a defensive line that has long been viewed as one of the thinnest spots on the roster.
Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reported that Lorenz Metz will sign with the practice squad, adding depth to an offensive line that still looks light on answers. It helps, but it also underscores how much more work the Patriots may need to do before they feel comfortable up front.
Jeremy Fowler reported that Hassan Haskins is also headed back to New England. Haskins had made a strong case with his showing against the Browns last week and looked like a serious contender in the RB3 battle, but the Patriots’ trade with the Cardinals for Corey Kiner squeezed the rest of the room. Even so, Haskins appears to have a real chance to get elevated at some point.
With Mike Vrabel already noting that the team doesn’t have much depth, these practice squad spots aren’t just placeholders. For a few of these players, they could become the bridge to real game-day work very quickly.
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 🡒]