The Patriots’ latest roster wrinkle might end up mattering more than it looks right now, because an injury at one of the most specialized spots on the team has opened the door for a real punting battle.
Bryce Baringer was forced out after his second punt in New England’s second preseason game against the Eagles, reportedly feeling tightness and leaving third-string rookie quarterback Behren Morton to handle punting duties the rest of the way. Morton held up well enough for a non-punter, averaging 44.3 yards per punt and even dropping in a touchback. Still, it was hard to imagine the Patriots staying there for long, and they didn’t.
On Monday, the team signed Matt Haack, a 32-year-old veteran who entered the league in 2017 as an undrafted rookie out of Arizona State. His NFL path has been anything but stable.
Haack spent four seasons with the Dolphins, then joined the Bills before the 2021 season. He was with the Colts in 2022, and since 2023 has had nine stints with eight different teams.
Of those eight, he actually punted for only three: the Browns, Giants, and Cardinals.
That move sets up a competition that could stretch into the first weeks of the regular season, and maybe beyond. New England’s special teams have long been one of the organization’s calling cards, and even though Andy Borregales’ early preseason struggles drew attention, the unit has generally been solid.
Baringer has been a steady piece over the last three seasons, but the numbers from last year and the postseason leave the door open. In the regular season, he had a career-low 51 punts, placed 21 inside the 20 for a 41.18% rate, and averaged 47.4 yards. His net average was 40.4, also a career low.
The playoffs were rougher. Across four games, Baringer punted 27 times, landed 10 inside the 20 at a 37.04% clip, and averaged 41.6 yards.
His net average fell to 38.9. The snow in Denver clearly didn’t help, but even when isolating the other three playoff games, he wasn’t as sharp as he had been during the regular season.
On 19 punts in those games, he averaged 43.1 yards.
Haack’s case is built on last season in Arizona, where he averaged 51.3 yards on 25 punts. It’s a small sample, but it still stacks up favorably against Baringer’s numbers, and Haack’s 43.4 net average was better than Baringer has posted in any season.
That matters because Baringer is expected to miss multiple regular season games, which gives Haack a chance to make this more than a temporary fix. And with Baringer in the final year of his deal, the Patriots will also have to make a separate decision on his future after the season. If Haack punts the way he did last year, he could force his way into the picture for much longer than just a short-term replacement.
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For a roster that has been sorting through depth behind its top options, the move leaves Kiner in a more visible spot as New England pares down the competition. It also underscores how fluid the position has been all summer, with the Patriots continuing to reshuffle the mix while trying to settle on the group they want carrying into the season. [Read more 🡒]