Patriots Announce Surprising Roster Move Entering Week 8

The New England Patriots fell short earlier this week against the Chicago Bears, seeing their record drop down to 4-3 on the season.

The game against Chicago was a close one, but in the end, the Patriots couldn't make the big play to win. This snapped the team's winning streak, sending them back to the drawing board for the next game.

Heading into the upcoming week, New England has made a surprising move along the roster. New England has released punter Bryce Baringer, who has been on injured reserve all season so far.

Baringer has been on injured reserve since the preseason, with veteran Mitch Wishnowsky handling the punting duties for the team this year. New England didn't need two punters on the roster, and with Baringer ready to return, the team made a move.

The Patriots drafted Baringer in 2023 in the sixth round, and he has helped them a lot over the last few years. Baringer averaged 47.4 yards per punt in 2025, with a net average of 40.6.

The veteran has served as the team's punter since being drafted, totaling 219 total punts over his career. Prior to going on injured reserve in the preseason, Baringer had not missed a game.

Baringer will now look for a new team, and any squad that needs a new punter would be lucky to have him. New England has used Baringer as a weapon over the years, helping the team swap field position at different times.

Wishnowsky has played in all seven games this year for the team, punting the ball 22 times for 1,037 yards, with three touchbacks. New England will now go forward with him as the main punter, hoping to continue the success that he has seen.

For the Patriots, they will now get ready for a matchup on the road against the Miami Dolphins. Miami will be coming off their first win of the season, with the team playing with some confidence heading into this game.

If New England doesn't come in with a strong mindset, the Dolphins could look to pull off the upset at home. The Patriots loss to the Bears was a frustrating one all around, but this team still has a lot in front of them.

New England can still win the AFC East, especially with the team having a victory over the Buffalo Bills already. But the Patriots can't afford more slip-ups, and each week will present them an opportunity to get better.