In the days since the New England Patriots finalized a 53-man roster, they’ve made waiver claims and filled the practice squad. We review where the team stands entering Week 1 of the regular season.
Rosters around the NFL have been trimmed from 90 players to 53 ahead of the 2026 regular season, and the ensuing rush to place waiver claims have been made. Now that the dust has settled on a weekend that featured over 1,200 transactions league-wide, the New England Patriots have added three new faces for game days and solidified a 17-member practice squad to accompany their initial 53-man roster.
On tonight’s episode of the Patriots Roundtable Podcast, hosts Eddie Marotta and Tyler Geis review the most recent decisions made by New England to finalize the roster ahead of the September 9 opener against the Seattle Seahawks. We examine the team’s most recent additions and discuss those returning contributors that made surprising runs toward inclusion on the roster, but were ultimately retained on the practice squad to begin the regular season.
Many of those in-house practice squad signings came on the offensive side of the ball for the Patriots, whose depth at the skill positions left very few open vacancies for younger players to work their way into. That was especially apparent at wide receiver, as three undrafted free agents (UDFAs) impressed through the summer, but could not break through to the 53-man roster. Now, Kyle Dixon and Cameron Dorner return to Foxboro to begin the 2026 season with the team in a lesser capacity, and will focus on further development while they await more expansive opportunities.
In New England’s backfield, weekend trades to acquire running back Corey Kiner from the Arizona Cardinals and offensive tackle Walter Rouse from the Minnesota Vikings left little room for Lan Larison, who was retained on the practice squad. At tight end, Cameron Latu was claimed on waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles to add an additional layer of veteran help and fill the role left vacant by Julian Hill.
Defensively, thinning depth at multiple positions paved a path toward inclusion on the 53-man roster for UDFAs linebacker Khalil Jacobs and cornerback Channing Canada, and opened the door for waiver claims during the week. Linebackers Darius Muasau and Erick Hunter were added to the second-level, each with the potential for special teams and rotational defensive contributions. Those who missed the cut after standout performances during the preseason have been signed to the practice squad, including cornerback Kindle Vildor in the secondary and defensive tackles Eric Gregory and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. up front.
With the announcement of their waiver claims and practice squad members, the Patriots’ regular season roster is set… for now. More roster movement may still be in the works prior to kick-off in Seattle, but this is largely the group that will be going into battle for New England this fall.
What do you think of the Patriots’ roster to begin the 2026 season? Which new additions or returning contributors do you believe will earn larger roles? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.
–
Follow the Patriots Roundtable Podcast!
