Reviewing the New England Patriots’ 2026 Practice Squad Signings

The signings from a busy weekend across the NFL haven’t concluded just yet.

Following the finalization of an initial 53-man roster to kick-off the 2026 regular season, the New England Patriots have been active on the waiver wire and in contract negotiations. New England has welcomed several familiar faces back to Foxboro, and opened the door to new arrivals — each with varying levels of experience, expectation, and the potential for significant contributions during this fall’s campaign. 

Here’s a closer look at the 12 players that currently make up the Patriots’ practice squad to begin the 2026 season:

Mike Brown was signed by New England as an unrestricted free agent on March 12 and initially projected to fill the third safety role behind starters Kevin Byard III and Craig Woodson with active participation through the early offseason program. Brown was surpassed quickly by Dell Pettus and John Saunders Jr. in training camp, and his place on the roster was in jeopardy well before the Patriots acquired Jaylen Reed in the trade that sent Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans on August 24. Brown returns as a veteran member of the practice squad that can step in to contribute on short notice.

Kyle Dixon was one of New England’s more “high profile” undrafted free agent (UDFA) signings this offseason when he inked a $250,000 contract to join the team. His preseason took time to get off the ground, but he was one of the few bright spots offensively for the Patriots in the finale against the Cleveland Browns, registering eight receptions and 71 receiving yards in the game. After clearing waivers, he’ll be able to continue developing in Foxboro this fall.

Cameron Dorner was one of the pleasant surprises of training camp and the preseason in New England. In any other year in recent memory, he likely would have made the roster with his consistently strong performances. Buried underneath other players with higher ceilings on the depth chart, the Patriots were able to sneak Dorner through waivers and retain him entering the regular season. He could provide injury insurance for the team at some point during the year, and will be a candidate to make the roster next fall — if he sticks around.

Eric Gregory was a dark horse candidate to make the 53-man roster as one of New England’s few interior defensive linemen that fit the prototype of a nose tackle. At 6’4”, 320 lbs., Gregory just missed the cut behind Leonard Taylor III, but will likely factor into the game day roster at some point during the regular season — much like he did last year after being added to the practice squad around the same time.

Hassan Haskins gained momentum in the competition for the third running back job late in training camp as an efficient between-the-tackles runner that had history with head coach Mike Vrabel. Originally a fourth-round pick (No. 131 overall) in 2022 by Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans, Haskins began to see an increased volume of reps with the second-team offense in practices and contributed on special teams during preseason games. A trusted presence in the backfield, he figures to be an added layer of depth than can be called upon in a “break glass in case of emergency” scenario.

Lan Larison was reportedly set to make the final cut to 53 up until the Patriots traded for former Minnesota Vikings’ offensive tackle Walter Rouse in the waning moments before Sunday’s 6:00 p.m. ET deadline. The “54th” player on the roster, Larison rejoins the team on the practice squad after clearing waivers, and will be a call-up candidate throughout the course of the season.

Lorenz Metz spent the summer as New England’s “91st” player on the roster, and will now be a bonus addition to the practice squad when the remaining spots are filled. The depth offensive tackle is part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program and does not count against the team’s roster count, giving the Patriots an added body along the offensive line without detracting from the team’s ability to fill the spots around him.

Jeremiah Pharms Jr. is one of New England’s longest tenured players and was originally signed by the Patriots as a free agent on July 19, 2022. He’s been elevated to the active roster on several occasions, but has been a mainstay on the practice squad for the greater part of the last four years. Yet another layer of depth in the center of the defensive line, Pharms saw his most extensive action in 2024 when he appeared in 16 regular season games and recorded 31 tackles and two sacks.

Jacob Rizy signed with New England as a UDFA on May 8, 2026 and saw extensive playing time at center in the preseason following Ben Brown’s injury in the opener. The former Harvard and Florida State starter hails from Westport, Connecticut and will stay planted in the region for the 2026 regular season as a developmental interior offensive line project.

Kindle Vildor signed with the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 23, 2026, after stints with the Chicago Bears (2020-2022), Tennessee (2023), Detroit Lions (2023-2024), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2025) during his six-year career. He was in direct competition with Charles Woods as the veteran substitute in the cornerback room, but finished the preseason on a sour note with a shaky performance in the finale. He returns as a vested veteran on the practice squad that could provide relief in the event of injury.

Riley Wilson was originally signed by New England as a UDFA on July 22, 2026. The off-ball linebacker prospect started 52 games collegiately and was heavily featured in the Patriots’ preseason contests, totalling eight tackles, three run stops and three pressures. A thin position on the roster in Foxboro, Wilson will see an expanded opportunity for growth during the regular season.

Mitch Wishnowsky is a veteran of seven years and spent his first six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before joining the Buffalo Bills in 2025. A cutdown day casualty this past weekend, Wishnowsky will likely be called up to the 53-man roster prior to the regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks to fill in for Bryce Baringer, who was placed on injured reserve on Monday and will miss at least the first four games of the year. Wishnowsky has averaged 45.5 yards per punt in his career with a 40.9 net-yards average.

With waiver claims placed and the practice squad filled, New England now holds the rights to 65 players that may be called upon to provide contributions during regular season contests. The league-wide rush to acquire pieces may slow now that cutdown weekend is in the books, but more transactions may still take place between now and kick off in Seattle as the Patriots look to shore up their remaining positions of need.  

Who are you excited to see re-join the Patriots on the practice squad? Which players do you think have the best chance to be called up for live action? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.

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Related Articles:

- Reviewing the New England Patriots’ 2026 53-Man Roster 

- New England Patriots Trade Profile: A Closer Look at Offensive Tackle Walter Rouse

- New England Patriots Trade Profile: A Closer Look at Running Back Corey Kiner

- New England Patriots Trade Profile: A Closer Look at Safety Jaylen Reed

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