Two recent departures from the New England Patriots’ practice squad will be returning for 2026.
Running back Elijah Mitchell and offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez signed futures contracts in Foxborough on Wednesday, the organization announced.
Mitchell, 27, joined the practice squad in December and was released ahead of January’s AFC divisional round versus the Houston Texans. The 5-foot-10, 215-pound running back originally entered the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2021
draft at No. 194 overall. By way of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, Mitchell totaled 1,523 rushing yards, 158 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns across 355 touches while in the NFC West.
After signing a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs at the start of the 2025 league year, Mitchell was inactive for all but one game before being waived. His career spans 28 appearances in the regular season, including a dozen starts. He has added three touchdowns from scrimmage in the postseason.
Gutierrez, 27, has logged multiple tours on the practice squad at Gillette Stadium since going undrafted out of Minot State in 2022. In the fold for one week as a rookie, the 6-foot-5, 308-pound offensive tackle rejoined the Patriots in September, re-signed in January and was released following the AFC wild card against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Spending his first NFL training camp with the Denver Broncos, Gutierrez has also made stops with Kansas City and San Francisco, in addition to the Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts. Twice serving as a standard elevation, the bookend has seen three snaps on offense and seven snaps on special teams in his career.
Head coach Mike Vrabel’s Patriots have now signed 13 players to futures pacts since Super Bowl LX. Wide receivers Jeremiah Webb and John Jiles, tight end Marshall Lang, offensive tackle Lorenz Metz, guards Mehki Butler and Andrew Rupcich, defensive tackles Leonard Taylor III and Jeremiah Pharms Jr., linebackers Amari Gainer and Otis Reese, as well as safety John Saunders Jr. were retained earlier in the week.
Cornerback Miles Battle, who finished the campaign on the practice squad after a 53-man roster stint, has since moved on to the Miami Dolphins.
