The New England Patriots and every other team in the NFL have until 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon to trim their rosters to 53 players. Mike Vrabel and company got a jump on their roster moves last week, but still have a lot of work to do.
“I’ve been through a lot of these things. We try to do them as respectfully and professionally as we can,” Vrabel told reporters ahead of Monday’s practice in Foxboro.
New England was down to 76 players on its roster to start Tuesday, and has to make at least 23 more transactions ahead of the NFL’s deadline. Vrabel hinted that a slew of new names will be brought into New England after rosters are trimmed and players clear waivers, so the Patriots may want to give themselves some extra wiggle room to build out their squad to start the 2025 season.
Drake Maye is in no danger of getting cut on Tuesday, but the second-year quarterback knows how difficult the day will be for the team.
“I only got to experience one time last year, but you hear about it. There are so many guys out here working their butts off fighting and clawing to make the team. It’s news that’s unfortunate for them and unfortunate for us, who built a relationship with them,” Maye told reporters Monday in Foxboro.
“You realize that’s the nature of the business and from there, just pumping those guys up. You may see them again,” added Maye. “Relationships are never over. It’s just another step in the journey and you try to stay in touch with them.”
Stick with us throughout the day for all of New England’s roster moves:
Javon Baker reportedly makes the team
The buzzer has sounded and we’re awaiting official word on New England’s final cuts and 53-man roster. But receiver Javon Baker has reportedly made the team, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live.
Baker was on the bubble after a disappointing one-catch rookie campaign from the 2024 fourth-round pick. But he carved out a role as a gunner on special teams during the preseason.
Kyle Dugger reportedly staying with Patriots
New England tried to find a trade partner to take on Dugger and his contract, but did not come close to a deal, according to Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald.
This will be Dugger’s sixth season in New England, and his second of the four-year, $58 million extension he signed with the Patriots last summer.
Tight end Gee Scott Jr. waived
Gee Scott Jr. is being waived, per Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald. The Patriots now have eight moves to make over the next 30 minutes.
Terrell Jennings being released
Now there are only three running backs in New England, with Terrell Jennings reportedly set to be released, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live.
Jennings may not be gone for long though, as Daniels reports the team plans to bring him back on the practice squad.
Nine moves to go for the Patriots.
Efton Chism, Elijah Ponder make the cut
A pair of UDFAs are making the Patriots, with receiver Efton Chism III and linebacker Elijah Ponder being told they’ve made the 53-man roster, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live.
Chism was the start of the preseason for New England but hasn’t practiced since his breakout game against the Vikings in Minnesota. But he did more than enough to earn his spot in a crowded receiver battle.
The Patriots have under an hour to make 10 more moves to reach 53 players on the roster.
Jakob Johnson released by Texans
The Patriots aren’t done with their roster trimming, but there’s one player to keep an eye on for New England: Fullback Jakob Johnson, who was released by the Texans on Tuesday.
Johnson started his NFL career with three seasons in New England from 2019-2021, and could be back in the coming days. Josh McDaniels signed Johnson to join him in Las Vegas for the 2022 season, and the Patriots are looking for a fullback after losing Brock Lampe to injured reserve earlier this summer.
Truman Jones getting waived by Patriots
The Patriots have told linebacker Truman Jones that he’ll be waived today, according to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss.
The Harvard alum initially signed onto the New England practice squad last December and was active for Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills. Jones had some solid plays as a pass rusher and on special teams during the preseason, so we’ll see if he can land on New England’s practice squad after the waiver period.
Ten moves left for the Patriots to reach 53 players on the roster.
JaMycal Hasty getting cut from running back room
It looks like the Patriots will go into the season with three running backs, as JaMycal Hasty is set to be cut, according to Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald. Terrell Jennings is still in the mix, but will be sweating it out ahead of 4 p.m.
Hasty joined the Patriots in November of 2023 and played in 15 games last season. He caught a touchdown from Drake Maye in a 32-16 loss to the Jaguars in London, and finished the year with 69 rushing yards on 20 attempts.
The Pats will likely go with Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, and Antonio Gibson out of the back field to start the season. Jennings could potentially make the team if the Patriots want to go with four running backs to begin the season.
Hasty could end up back on the New England practice squad if the veteran clears waivers.
Cam Riley getting cut; 12 moves to go for Patriots
Linebacker Cam Riley is getting cut by New England, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live. Riley was signed as a rookie free agent in May after he played the 2024 season at Florida State.
With the move, the Patriots are a dozen moves away from hitting 53 players on the roster.
Alec Lindstrom being waived
The Patriots are waiving center Alec Lindstrom, according to Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald. Lindstrom is a Dudley native and Boston College alum who went undrafted in 2022 and spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and New York Jets before signing with the Patriots in July.
Lindstrom is a candidate to land on the New England practice squad come Wednesday.
The Patriots are also waiving guard Mehki Butler, and hope to bring him back on the practice squad as well, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live.
Only 13 moves to go for the Patriots to get to 53 players on the roster.
David Olajiga being released, could land on practice squad
New England is releasing defensive tackle David Olajiga, but hopes to get the 27-year-old on the practice squad, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live.
Olajiga — who was born in London, England — signed with the Patriots in July as part of the International Pathway Program. He would be an international exemption for New England, which would allow the Patriots to carry an extra player on their practice squad.
Patriots reportedly release safety Marcus Epps, tight end CJ Dippre
Safety Marcus Epps requested to be released by the Patriots, and the team is granting that request, according to The Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed. Epps was a sixth-round pick by the Vikings back in 2019 and played for the Eagles and Raiders before signing a one-year, $1.4 million with New England in the offseason. He was a team captain in Las Vegas when current Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was head coach of the Raiders.
New England is also moving on from tight end CJ Dippre, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Jack Westover is the favorite to be the team’s third tight end after Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper.
Only 16 more moves to go for New England.
John Jiles reportedly being waived
The Pats are moving on from receiver John Jiles, who is being waived, according to Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald. He could land back on the New England practice squad, where Jiles spent the 2024 season.
New England has 18 moves to make to get to 53 players on the roster.
Cornerback Brandon Crossley to be released
The Patriots will be moving on from undrafted cornerback Brandon Crossley this afternoon. He’s been informed the team will release him, according to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss.
The Pats have 19 more moves to make to hit 53 players on the roster.
Andy Borregales reportedly wins kicking job
Kicker duties are going to a rookie in New England, with Andy Borregales beating out Parker Romo for the job, according to Mark Daniels of Mass Live.
The Patriots drafted Borregales in the sixth round out of Miami, and he hit three of his five field-goal attempts during the preseason and all four of his extra points. He had misses from 57 yards and 49 yards, while he made kicks from 30, 51, and 22 yards out.
Romo hit both of his field goal attempts and both of his extra points in the preseason.
The Patriots are also waiving corner Miles Battle, according to Daniels, and now have 20 cuts to go to get to 53 players on the roster.
Patriots cut tackle Demontrey Jacobs
The Patriots started their Tuesday by waiving tackle Demontrey Jacobs, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Jacobs broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Broncos in 2023 and spent the season on the Denver practice squad. He was claimed off waivers by New England last August and started 13 games for the Patriots last season.
The Patriots have 22 moves to make to get down to 53 players.
Patriots to watch on NFL cut-down day
There have been plenty of rumors regarding potential cuts and possible trades, with the future of safety Kyle Dugger at the forefront of the speculation. The five-year veteran is heading into the second year of a four-year extension he signed with the team last summer, but has been playing with second-teamers and the scout team in camp and in the preseason.
Will the Patriots find a trade partner for Dugger and his contract? Will he simply be released by the Patriots? Or will the team hang onto him given its lack of depth in the secondary?
In addition to Dugger, there are a few other New England veterans to keep an eye on throughout cut-down day. Linebacker Anfernee Jennings was also drafted by the Patriots in 2020, and was also playing with backups for much of camp and during his preseason action. Jennings didn’t play in last week’s preseason finale, which could be an indication he’s played back into Vrabel’s favor. Fellow linebacker Jahlani Tavai has also played sparingly amidst questions about his fit in the new system, and could be let loose Tuesday.
On the offensive side, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has been nursing a foot injury since before the preseason kicked off and is a cut candidate on Tuesday. He could also land on IR if the Patriots want some insurance for its receiving corps.
Javon Baker, who was a fourth-round pick in 2024, is the other name to watch among receivers. But he may have set himself apart from others on the roster bubble by finding a role on special teams as a gunner.
Tuesday could very well be Cole Strange‘s last day with the Patriots, as the offensive lineman (and 2022 first-round pick) has fallen out of the rotation among O-line backups. If the Patriots move on from Strange, corner Marcus Jones would be the only remaining member of the team’s 10-player 2022 draft class.
Layden Robinson waived with injury designation
On Sunday, the Patriots moved on from guard Layden Robinson, who was a fourth-round pick by New England in 2024 and started 11 games along the offensive line as a rookie.
Robinson was waived with an injury designation, and will revert to New England’s injured reserve if he passes through waivers.
Patriots cut 14 players after preseason finale
New England announced its first round of cuts last Friday, less than 24 hours after the team wrapped up its preseason slate against the New York Giants. Here are the 14 players released in the first round of roster trimming:
RJ Moten, LB
Micah Bernard, RB
Cole Fatheringham, TE
Kyle Peko, DT
Shane Watts, RB
Ben Wooldridge, QB
Phil Lutz, WR
Monty Rice, LB
Sidy Sow, OL
Philip Blidi, DL
Jordan Polk, CB
Jaheim Bell, TE
Isaiah Bolden, CB
Tyrese Robinson, OL
The most notable names in the first round of cuts were third-string quarterback Ben Wooldridge and offensive lineman Sidy Sow. Vrabel hinted Friday the team will look to add a third quarterback ahead of the regular season.
Source link
