{"id":74653,"date":"2026-09-02T04:30:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T08:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=74653"},"modified":"2026-09-02T09:38:50","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T13:38:50","slug":"patriots-busy-adding-to-53-man-roster-and-practice-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2026\/09\/02\/patriots-busy-adding-to-53-man-roster-and-practice-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"MORSE: Patriots Busy Adding to 53-Man Roster and Practice Squad"},"content":{"rendered":"
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.<\/p>\n
Practice <\/strong><\/h3>\n
No RB TreVeyon Henderson at practice (Ankle)<\/p>\n
TE Cameron Latu was a non-participant at practice.<\/p>\n
Captains Announced <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Here are the 2026 Patriots captains:<\/p>\n
Drake Maye<\/p>\n
Hunter Henry<\/p>\n
Morgan Moses<\/p>\n
Robert Spillane<\/p>\n
Kevin Byard III<\/p>\n
Marcus Jones<\/p>\n
Interesting to note, neither Christian Gonzalez nor Brenden Schooler were named Captains.<\/p>\nPatriots offensive lineman, Ben Brown. (PHOTO: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images)<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Comings and Goings <\/strong><\/h3>\n
53-Man Roster Additions <\/strong><\/h4>\n
The Patriots announced they have re-signed Ben Brown<\/strong> to the 53-man roster.\u00a0 They also signed Erick Hunter<\/strong>, LB, Morgan State, formerly of the Detroit Lions.<\/p>\n
Hunter stands 6\u2019 2.3\u201d, 224 pounds, and had outstanding numbers at the HBCU Showcase: 4.48 40, 7.43 3-cone drill, 4.21 SS, 37\u201d Vertical Leap, 10\u2019 10\u201d Broad Jump.\u00a0 That 40-yard dash would have been 3rd<\/sup> best at the Combine at his position.<\/p>\n
From FCS Football Central:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Career Statistics:<\/strong>\u00a045 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.\u00a0 Missed all of 2024 with an injury.<\/p>\n
Accolades:<\/strong>\u00a0First-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)<\/p>\n
\u201cErick 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
Length and frame<\/li>\n
Athleticism for the position<\/li>\n
Range in coverage and against the run<\/li>\n
Coverage ability<\/li>\n
Alignment versatility<\/li>\n
Special teams value<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Hunter had outstanding grades from PFF for his work this Preseason with Detroit.\u00a0 His over all Defense grade was 83.1 but his Run Defense grade was even better at 90.3.<\/p>\n
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. \u2013 Mike Reiss<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to be a player that\u2019s going to run around the field, fly around, be fast, and poised in chaos. At the end of the day, I\u2019m a football player, and that\u2019s as big as I can say it,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cLike, you\u2019ll enjoy watching me play, especially when the game slows down. I\u2019m going to just speed up even crazier, and go to a whole new level. It\u2019ll be a sight to see.\u201d \u2013 Mia Berry<\/p>\n
Practice Squad Additions<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Patriots signed Jose Ramirez<\/strong>, LB, to their Practice Squad.\u00a0 The 6\u20192, 252-pound OLB played at Eastern Michigan.\u00a0 He was a strong tester at the Combine, running a 4.73 40 with a 6.95 3-cone drill. \u00a0\u00a02023 6th-round pick (196) drafted by Tampa and had a stint in the NFL. \u00a0\u00a0Ramirez played in four games during the 2024 season, appearing in 30 snaps on defense and 40 snaps, mostly on special teams.\u00a0 Last season, he played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
Per NFL Draft Buzz:<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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.<\/p>\n
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\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n
Ramirez has the strong core and powerful hands to shed blockers, and Ramirez shows excellent instincts with the ability to quickly locate the ball.<\/li>\n
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.<\/li>\n
Vision to locate the ball and recognize cut blocks. Can rip past blockers and pull down ballcarriers when he cannot fully disengage from linemen.<\/li>\n
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.<\/li>\n
Aggressive with good awareness to track the ball and attack. Tenacious, tough, competItIve and versatile.<\/li>\n
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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
They also re-signed KJ Britt<\/strong> to the Practice Squad.<\/p>\n
They added DT Jalen Hunt<\/strong>, 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 3\u00bd sacks.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s odd front, but he\u2019s suited for work as a penetrating nose tackle in an even front. He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\n
First-step quickness to threaten gaps as a penetrator.<\/li>\n
Leverage and burst to play through seal blocks laterally.<\/li>\n
Drives upward hand strikes into first contact with good pop.<\/li>\n
Shows foot quickness to work around base blocks and threaten edges as a rusher.<\/li>\n
Was a plus tester across the board at his pro day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Transferred from Florida to Michigan State and finally on to Cincinnati.\u00a0 Stout against the run as a Nose Tackle.\u00a0 Ran a 5.05 40 at his Pro Day and had 3.5 sacks as a Senior.<\/p>\n
ED Xavier Holmes<\/strong> had all his equipment in his locker, which indicates that he is on the Practice Squad, but there is nothing official from the Patriots.<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"Aug](\"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-14T003125Z_736134425_MT1USATODAY29578172_RTRMADP_3_NFL-INDIANAPOLIS-COLTS-AT-NEW-ENGLAND-PATRIOTS-scaled.jpg\")