Some news and notes as the New England Patriots get back to work on Monday ahead of this week’s final preseason game against the Browns Thursday night:
Patriots Sign Punter
Following an injury Saturday night to starting punter Bryce Baringer, the Patriots were forced to bring in reinforcements on Monday.
The team signed free agent punter Matt Haack, who will now be tested as the Patriots try to make sure they have someone back there who can handle Baringer’s duties until he’s back healthy.
Haack spent this most recent training camp with the Washington Commanders, with the veteran being waived last week.
The veteran has had an interesting few months. This marks the second opportunity he’s had this preseason when it comes to Haack being signed while filling in for an injured player.
He had previously joined the Commanders following an injury to the team’s own punter, 36-year-old Tress Way. Way has reportedly missed time while recovering from an apparent pectoral injury he suffered in a “Flex Off” with former Washington player and actor Terry Crews.
Way returned to practice in Washington back on August 7th, but didn’t return to action right away as the team eased him back in. He held on each field goal and extra point attempt against Miami two weeks ago, but finally resumed his punting duties in their second outing against Detroit. In that game, Way punted 4 times for 176 yards against the Lions on Saturday, including dropping two inside the 20.
Way’s return saw Haack waived prior to that game, but New England’s bad luck now gives the veteran a job for a little while longer, depending on the severity of Baringer’s injury.
Looking back at the telecast, Baringer came off the field with a slight limp following his second punt, which was a 61-yard kick with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter.
“It happened in the game, yes,” said Vrabel when asked about the timing of the injury Monday. “I mean, I wouldn’t make him go out and kick while he was injured.”
“It was something that occurred during the game, which is why the quarterback [Behren Morton] had to punt.”
According to the league’s game book, Baringer stayed in the game and handled the holding duties on field goals and extra points, but Morton handled the punting duties for the remainder of the night. He finished with three punts for 133 yards, including one touchback.
When asked Monday if Morton might remain in consideration, Vrabel smiled and didn’t rule it out.
“Maybe, maybe. His plus 50 has to improve,” said Vrabel. “And then we need some more hang time and not kick it right down the middle. At least they bounced, and then went forward. So that was positive.”
Meanwhile, Haack, who was wearing #19 at practice for the Patriots on Monday, appeared in seven games in 2025, averaging 51.3 yards per punt with 10 of his 25 punts landing inside the 20 last season.
Gonzalez Finally Back At Practice
After not seeing time on the practice field since August 10th, Christian Gonzalez was back on the practice field for the first time on Monday.
Gonzalez hadn’t practiced since he hit the turf hard during a practice rep against Romeo Doubs ahead of the team’s joint practice against Indianapolis.
Vrabel said after the game against the Colts that Gonzalez was “physically unavailable,” with Vrabel saying that the fourth-year defensive back had been working on a “return to play” plan prior to Monday morning’s news.
“I think we’re hopeful that he’ll be able to do some stuff,” Vrabel said on Monday before practice. “He was working before the game [Saturday night] and trying to work through the return to play. So we’ll see how he feels this morning.”
Gonzalez looked smooth and healthy based on multiple videos Monday morning, and so far it looks like the veteran may be settling back in as the regular season continues creeping closer.
The only remaining question with Gonzalez is whether or not his contract will get done prior to the start of the regular season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said recently that no significant progress had been made, and it appears it may still be a while before it gets done.
“Well, first of all, I’m not so sure that that Gonzo deal is going to get done so quickly,” said Schefter. “Obviously there are the parameters in place and there’s the roadmap that Davon Witherspoon has presented, and obviously Gonzalez would love to get a deal, deserving of a new deal. And the Patriots would like to get a deal. But up until this past weekend, the two sides were not overly close, and they had not had a lot of productive conversations. So we’ll see if that works out or not.”
Eliot Wolf was interviewed during Halftime Saturday night as the Patriots took on the Eagles at Gillette Stadium, and he remains steadfast that the team hopes to get a deal done to keep Gonzalez in Foxboro.
“Each side is trying to do what’s right for them,” Wolf said during halftime Saturday night, via Mike Reiss of ESPN. “Christian is a tremendous player that we’ve been on record multiple times saying we want him to be here, and that hasn’t changed. We’re going to continue working with his representation to try to get something done.”
Vrabel had little to say on Monday about Gonzalez’s situation. When asked on WEEI, he made it clear that he’d like to see his cornerback here with him for the duration of his coaching tenure in New England.
“I don’t have anything to add on Christian. I don’t, really. I think that we’re working hard to try to get him, and we want him a part of our team for as long as— Hell, certainly I’m here— as long as he can possibly be here. That’s what we want to do.”
Odds and Ends
In addition to Haack, the Patriots also added offensive lineman Jack Conley on Monday. Conley was out on the field at practice wearing #67, and he should help provide some depth given that he has experience at both guard and tackle. He was with the Patriots at various points in 2025, having signed as an undrafted free agent and spent time on the team’s practice squad. … The Patriots practiced on the lower field in front of the New Balance Athletic Center, and the grass was apparently pretty slick. Several players reportedly had difficulty with their footing, with A.J. Brown among players who slipped during the session. Running back TreVeyon Henderson reportedly had to leave practice, with the second-year running back being looked at by trainers before leaving the field. … Between the addition of Haack and Conley, the Patriots will need to make corresponding roster moves. They were at the limit heading into Monday. Missing from Monday’s practice were Corey Durden, Marcus Bryant, Bryce Baringer, Craig Woodson, Jam Miller, Khalil Jacobs, Kobee Prentice, Kenneth Harris, Mekhi Butler, Xavier Holmes, Lorenz Metz, and Ben Brown. Vrabel praised Larison, Miller, Jacobs, Metz, and Holmes during interviews on Monday, which leaves Prentice, Harris, and Butler as potential names, along with Baringer or Bryant, depending on the injuries they’re dealing with. … Bryant’s status wasn’t questioned Monday. He listed Bryant among players who wouldn’t be out there, and didn’t say much beyond that. … Vrabel not offering up much after the game. “I just think he just got rolled up on. I think it’ll be a lower leg injury, but I don’t know to what extent. That’s kind of what happens sometimes in those inside plays. So we’ll have to just take a look and see where he’s at. But I won’t know anything right now.” Bryant has been among the top backups at both left and right tackle, and he left the field Saturday night after getting his leg rolled up on during the Patriots’ first offensive drive of the game. He was later ruled “Out” and didn’t return. Vrabel called it a “lower leg” injury, but he’s yet to elaborate any further on it.
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
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