MORSE: Patriots Busy Adding to 53-Man Roster and Practice Squad

The Patriots were busy again on Tuesday, adding players to their Practice Squad and 53-Man roster, which was a continuation after the final cutdown and subsequent moves.

Practice

No RB TreVeyon Henderson at practice (Ankle)

TE Cameron Latu was a non-participant at practice.

Captains Announced

Here are the 2026 Patriots captains:

Drake Maye

Hunter Henry

Morgan Moses

Robert Spillane

Kevin Byard III

Marcus Jones

Interesting to note, neither Christian Gonzalez nor Brenden Schooler were named Captains.

Aug 13, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots center Ben Brown (77) warms up before a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images — **Patriots offensive lineman, Ben Brown. (PHOTO: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images)**

Comings and Goings

53-Man Roster Additions

The Patriots announced they have re-signed Ben Brown to the 53-man roster. They also signed Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State, formerly of the Detroit Lions.

Hunter stands 6’ 2.3”, 224 pounds, and had outstanding numbers at the HBCU Showcase: 4.48 40, 7.43 3-cone drill, 4.21 SS, 37” Vertical Leap, 10’ 10” Broad Jump. That 40-yard dash would have been 3^rd best at the Combine at his position.

From FCS Football Central:

Career Statistics: 45 games played, 298 total tackles (183 solo), 35 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 12 passes defended, 7 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovered. Missed all of 2024 with an injury.

Accolades: First-Team All-MEAC (2023, 2025), Third-Team FCS Football Central All-American (2023, 2025), Buck Buchanan Award Finalist (2023, 2025), Second-Team Stats Perform FCS All-American (2025), BOXTOROW HBCU All-American (2025), BOXTOROW Impact Player of the Year (2023)

“Erick Hunter is a long, rangy, and versatile linebacker whose athleticism and length generate good developmental upside despite the current lighter frame. He is long-limbed, with a lean but muscular frame, and flashes very good linear burst and lateral quickness in pursuit.

His short-area burst allows him to scrape and chase sideline-to-sideline and close to ball carriers with adequate stopping power. He does a good job of utilizing his long arms to create separation from blockers, but he will need to be more physical to shock and shed offensive linemen on the first and second levels. His trigger against the run is above average, and he can be an overprocessor at times.

In coverage, he shows fluidity and coverage versatility. His length and athleticism allow him to cover shallow zones, mirror tight ends, and patrol the middle of the field. As a blitzer, he shows good burst off the edge, adequate speed-to-power, but lacks a refined pass rush repertoire.

With added bulk and play strength, he can settle into an even-front WILL linebacker role, with big nickel versatility. He projects as a fringe NFL rotational prospect with athletic and developmental upside.”

Length and frame
Athleticism for the position
Range in coverage and against the run
Coverage ability
Alignment versatility
Special teams value

Hunter had outstanding grades from PFF for his work this Preseason with Detroit. His over all Defense grade was 83.1 but his Run Defense grade was even better at 90.3.

Follow-up on LB Erick Hunter: Patriots initially put in a waiver claim for him, but pulled it back after being awarded LB Darius Muasau and TE Cameron Latu, per sources. They were then working through the 53-man roster/practice-squad process. With an open spot, they circle back to Hunter. – Mike Reiss

“I’m going to be a player that’s going to run around the field, fly around, be fast, and poised in chaos. At the end of the day, I’m a football player, and that’s as big as I can say it,” Hunter said. “Like, you’ll enjoy watching me play, especially when the game slows down. I’m going to just speed up even crazier, and go to a whole new level. It’ll be a sight to see.” – Mia Berry

Practice Squad Additions

Patriots signed Jose Ramirez, LB, to their Practice Squad. The 6’2, 252-pound OLB played at Eastern Michigan. He was a strong tester at the Combine, running a 4.73 40 with a 6.95 3-cone drill. 2023 6th-round pick (196) drafted by Tampa and had a stint in the NFL. Ramirez played in four games during the 2024 season, appearing in 30 snaps on defense and 40 snaps, mostly on special teams. Last season, he played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was one of the players I identified as a player the Patriots should be interested in off the original Cut Down list jettisoned by the Eagles.

Per NFL Draft Buzz:

“In 2021 as a junior Ramirez played in 13 games and contributed on 571 snaps. He recorded 40 tackles, 8 assists, while making 33 stops. As a pass rusher, he produced 36 total pressures, which included 23 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and an excellent 10 sacks on the year.

In 2022 as a senior Ramirez logged playing time in 11 games and logged a total of 545 snaps for the Eagles. He also added 35 tackles, 15 assists, and 38 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 47 total pressures, which included 32 QB hurries, 5 QB hits, and an excellent 10 sacks on the season”.

Ramirez has the strong core and powerful hands to shed blockers, and Ramirez shows excellent instincts with the ability to quickly locate the ball.
He’s not an elite pass rusher and projects as a left end in a 4-3 defense. If he layers on more muscle, he might fit in the 3-4. Size, strength and versatility should push him into the top 75 picks.
Vision to locate the ball and recognize cut blocks. Can rip past blockers and pull down ballcarriers when he cannot fully disengage from linemen.
Flashes nimble feet to chase running backs and mobile quarterbacks to the sideline when lined up at end. Spins off blocks to get back into the play.
Aggressive with good awareness to track the ball and attack. Tenacious, tough, competItIve and versatile.
Ramirez is strong enough in the lower body to hold up at the point of attack, and he displays a good feel as a grappler in the phone booth, consistently getting blockers off-balance before sending them to the ground.

They also re-signed KJ Britt to the Practice Squad.

They added DT Jalen Hunt, 25, who was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie free agent on April 27, 2026, out of Cincinnati. The 6-foot-2, 310-pounder was released by Jacksonville on Aug. 30, 2026. He played three seasons at Michigan State (2021-23) before playing his final two seasons at Cincinnati (2024-25). Overall, he played in 48 games and finished with 47 tackles and 3½ sacks.

Lance Zurlein NFL.com – Seventh-year senior with enticing disruption potential but only a single season of meaningful production. Hunt primarily played the 5-technique in Cincinnati’s odd front, but he’s suited for work as a penetrating nose tackle in an even front. He’s a plus athlete with quickness to beat blockers to the spot and dart into gaps or around base blocks. He has the foot quickness to test the gap-to-gap range of a center when aligned inside. His age, production, and injury history might hurt his draft chances, but his style of play and athletic ability give him a chance to compete as a rotational, one-gapping nose tackle.

First-step quickness to threaten gaps as a penetrator.
Leverage and burst to play through seal blocks laterally.
Drives upward hand strikes into first contact with good pop.
Shows foot quickness to work around base blocks and threaten edges as a rusher.
Was a plus tester across the board at his pro day.

Transferred from Florida to Michigan State and finally on to Cincinnati. Stout against the run as a Nose Tackle. Ran a 5.05 40 at his Pro Day and had 3.5 sacks as a Senior.

ED Xavier Holmes had all his equipment in his locker, which indicates that he is on the Practice Squad, but there is nothing official from the Patriots.

The signing of OG Jake Kubas, which I wrote about yesterday, was made official today.

The Patriots have one spot remaining on the Practice Squad, which should be filled by Holmes.

Mike Vrabel says the Patriots “added up to 10 new faces” coming out of roster cuts.

S Jaylen Reed (trade)

RB Corey Kiner (trade)

OL Walter Rouse (trade)

LB Darius Muasau (waiver claim)

TE Cameron Latu (waiver claim)

LB Erick Hunter – not sure how he was acquired

P Mitch Wishnowsky (practice squad) Game Day elevation

G Jake Kubas (practice squad)

LB Jose Ramirez (practice squad)

DT Jalen Hunt (practice squad)

– Alex Barth

Vrabel also stated that keeping Harold Landry on PUP and Brenden Schooler on NFI was always the plan. If that is so, then not going out and grabbing some more help on the EDGE is a huge mistake by the Front Office. Also, having 5 OLBs and 4 TEs is roster mismanagement. Let’s see how this shakes out and what the roster looks like a week from now.

Around the League

Spy#1 – Seattle found their spy, signing TE Jack Westover to their Practice Squad. Game 1 opponent.

Spy #2 – Bradyn Swinson has signed on with the Steelers Practice Squad. Game 2 opponent.

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About Mark Morse

Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.

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