By this time next week, we will know who the New England Patriots' 53-man roster for the 2026 season will be. We are now in the sixth week of training camp, and things are starting to shake up in many areas of the team, especially behind the starters.

The Patriots have played two preseason games and have their final one on Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns. Thursday night could be one of the last real chances for many of these guys who are trying to edge their way into a spot on the roster. Injuries have mounted, and performances have been graded for a few weeks now, so let's make a projection as to who the team will keep around for the 2026 campaign.

IN: Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito, Behern Morton (R)

OUT: N/A

With an obvious starter in Drake Maye, DeVito and Morton have been pretty exceptional in preseason. DeVito held his own and kept things in a consistent flow throughout his time on the field in both matchups against the Colts and Eagles. The fact that the Patriots brought him back after being the emergency QB3 last year says a lot about their faith in him in the room. Morton, on the other hand, may still have a lot to learn, but what a show he put on against the Eagles in the 73-yard game-winning drive, capped off by a touchdown pass to Nick DeGennaro. Let's also not forget Morton showed off his punting skills that night, which only adds to the reason to keep him off the practice squad and on the sidelines on Sundays.

IN: Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Lan Larison

OUT: Hasaan Haskins, JaMycal Hasty, Jam Miller (R)

Jam Miller definitely had himself a good night against the Colts in the team's first preseason game. But in the end, familiarity sometimes can favor a candidate. Miller will most likely be sent down to the practice squad, potentially along with Hasaan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty. It's Lan Larison who will be this team's RB3 going forward. Larison seems like a lock for Josh McDaniels' offensive schemes and wowed us all against the Philadelphia Eagles with 9 carries for 33 yards and a touchdown, along with 3 catches for 41 yards and 54 accumulated yards on kick returns. Versatility is what the Patriots need, and Larison brings that to the field.

IN: Reggie Gilliam

OUT: N/A

Gilliam is a roster lock for several reasons. The former Buffalo Bills fullback signed a multi-year deal back in March with the Patriots. In 2025, he played a key role in the Bills' rush attack and helped in a past game with pass blocking in the backfield, giving Josh Allen extra time inside the ten. It won't be long till we can see what he can do for Drake Maye. He will be pivotal in paving the way for secondary defenders and keeping the ball moving forward on offense. Gilliam has the potential to be the unsung hero of the offense this season. 

IN: A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, and Efton Chism III

OUT: Cameron Dorner (R), Kyle Dixon (R), Nick DeGennaro (R), Kobe Prentice (R), Tejhaun Palmer

TRADE: Kayshon Botte

With Kayshon Boutte now a Houston Texan, there is now an opportunity to fill some areas elsewhere, as the Patriots are now a traditional six-player deep in the wide receiver room. Although Boutte was a go-to for Drake Maye, the excitement is still in the air for Maye's connections to Brown and Doubs this season. Rookies Kyle Dixon and Nick DeGennaro impressed in preseason games but feel like a potential practice squad spot this year. It's a long season, and injuries always mount; some of these guys could be called up by Week 14 depending on how the WR room looks by then.

IN: Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon (R), Tanner Arkin (R)

OUT: C.J. Dippre, Mitch Van Vooren, Jack Westover

IR: Julian Hill

Nothing new here, really. There was a time when Jack Westover might have been in the mix after Hill was put on IR this summer, but rookies Eli Raridon and Tanner Arkin seem like a solid duo behind veteran Hunter Henry. Raridon has impressed in training camp as both a pass catcher and run blocker, while undrafted free agent Arkin has made his physicality felt on the field as a solid replacement for the kind of player the team hoped to acquire in Hill before he got injured. Raridon feels like a pick for the future after Henry steps down, but Arkin feels like the perfect mold of the traditional "Y" tight end. 

IN: Marcus Bryant, Will Campbell, Caleb Lomu (R), Morgan Moses, Dametrious Crownover (R)

OUT: James Hudson III, Lorenz Metz (Rookie)

Marcus Bryant's injury may put a damper on things, but the chances of him going anywhere else seem low at this moment in time. Campbell has had an incredible offseason that has him set up for a solid second-year run after his rookie season was met with criticism post-MCL injury. Caleb Lomu has been up and down on the field this offseason in games, but his versatility backs up his high stock value going forward. It will be a development year for Lomu, no doubt. James Hudson's poor in-game performance only adds to the narrative around his undisciplined style of play. Lorenz Metz feels like a strong practice squad candidate, as it seems like the competition to be in the mix is a little too tight now that Crownover has proved he can be plugged in and play well if an injury to a starter arises. 

IN: Ben Brown, Mike Onwenu, Greg Van Roten, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson

OUT: Mehki Butler, Darrian Dalcourt (Rookie), Joseph Michaski (R), JonDarius Morgan (R), Jacob Rizy (R)

IR: Andrew Rupcich (Injury Settlement)

As mentioned in the previous 53-man roster article. It's a thin group, but not much changes here. Brown's injury seems week-to-week. Onwenu has been the one constant of the group. Van Roten feels like a solid veteran acquisition for insurance. Vera-Tucker is expected to have a big push this season if he stays healthy, and it will be a return to form for Wilson. 

IN: Gabe Jacas (R), Dre’Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson

OUT: Amari Gainer, Xavier Holmes (Rookie), Quintayvious Hutchins (Rookie), Jesse Luketa

PUP: Harold Landry III

As of this writing, there is still no update on whether Harold Landry III has been cleared from the Physically Unable to Perform List (PUP). So, with that in mind, that makes this list a little thin going into the regular season. Despite a complicated process of getting him to the practice field, rookie Gabe Jacas has made a strong impression and answered the challenges his coaches have laid out for him. With Landry still not on the field, Ponder and Jones will share first team reps. Lastly, Bradyn Swinson has impressed in the last few weeks. Some have him on the roster bubble, while others feel that his 38 snaps against the Eagles, which included a lot of pressures and a batted-down pass, make him a strong candidate for depth on the edge. 

IN: Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III, Milton Williams

OUT: Isaiah Iton, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Casey Rogers, Eric Gregory

Although Mike Vrabel has made it known that the nose tackle position is up for the taking, Cory Durden has stepped into that role pretty smoothly throughout training camp. Farmer can aid in a lot of run-stopping opportunities, and Leonard Taylor III has gotten a lot of praise from his coaches. We still haven't forgotten about that blocked kick in the AFC Championship that Taylor did to keep the Broncos at bay. 

IN: Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, K.J. Britt, Khalil Jacobs (R)

OUT: Chad Muma, Riley Wilson (R), Namdi Obiazor (R)

It's tough to say, but it looks like Chad Muma may either fall to the practice squad and hope for another stab at things as the season goes on or may not even be a Patriot come time for the regular-season starting. Muma left the game with an injury against the Eagles late after an uneventful performance. With that, Khalil Jacobs squeezes into the roster and knocks his training camp competition, rookie Namdi Obiazor, onto the outside looking in. Spillane and Elliss still sit at the forefront of this pack, with K.J. Britt seeing more opportunities as the days go on. 

IN: Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Carlton Davis III, Charles Woods, Karon Prunty (R), Kindle Vildor

OUT: Channing Canada (R), Kobee Minor, Marcellas Dial Jr., Kenneth Harris (R), Brandon Crossley

There's debate here about whether the Patriots want to hold onto six cornerbacks. They likely could and should. Rookie Karon Prunty has been a sponge in terms of learning the ropes of a room led by Christian Gonzalez. Kindle Vildor recorded the season's first interception (even though it's not on the books) against the Colts and has not let up since then. Against the Eagles, if not for a penalty, the NFL journeyman would have recorded another interception. 

IN: Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus, Jaylen Reed, John Saunders Jr.

OUT: Mike Brown, Peter Manuma (R), Eric Butler (R), 

NFI: Brenden Schooler

Jaylen Reed arrives from the Houston Texans as part of the Patriots trade deal to send Kayshon Boutte out of town. This makes things interesting in the safety room. With the Patriots acquiring Reed just before cutdown day, it makes little sense to release him immediately or send him to the practice squad. Brenden Schooler currently sits on NFI, but that could change before Week 1 pending a physical. For now, Reed makes the cut. Byard and Woodson feel like a lock for the top starter in the room. Pettus and Saunders Jr. feel like top rotational candidates. Time will tell, though, if someone has to go to the practice squad. 

IN: LS Julian Ashby, K Andy Borregales, P Matt Haack

OUT/SHORT TERM IR: Bryce Baringer

It was announced on Monday that the punter Bryce Baringer was injured last week against the Eagles in the preseason game. Thus forcing Mike Vrabel to bring in punter Matt Haack. The team's newest addition will take reps as the starting punter; if it is announced that Baringer will not be ready for Week 1 but will be back shortly after, the Patriots could put him on the Short-Term Injured Reserve. Let's not forget, though, QB3 Behern Morton proved he could punt as well. Borregales proved a proper bounce-back after a rusty start, going 2 of 5 against the Colts, and despite some competition cycling through training camp, Julian Ashby feels like a lock for long snapper. 

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