The New England Patriots have built their first practice squad of the 2026 season, and it includes several familiar faces.
Of the 12 players officially announced to have been signed to their developmental roster, 11 were released by the Patriots just ahead of the NFL roster cutdown deadline. The lone exception is a free agency pickup who spent the summer in Buffalo but could end up playing fairly big role for the reigning AFC East champions early on in the season.
Patriots’ initial practice squad
Practice squad (11): RB Hassan Haskins,
RB Lan Larison, WR Kyle Dixon, WR Cameron Dorner, OL Jacob Rizy, DT Eric Gregory, DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr., LB Riley Wilson, CB Kindle Vildor, S Mike Brown, P Mitch Wishnowsky
Practice squad exempt (1): OT Lorenz Metz
A look at the Patriots’ first practice squad shows that it features few surprises. Running backs Hassan Haskins and Lan Larison were both fringe roster players whose outlook changed for the worse due to the recent trade acquisition of Corey Kiner; Eric Gregory made a strong case for himself as a backup interior defensive lineman; Kindle Vildor looked like the team’s fourth or fifth cornerback at times this summer.
Now, all of them plus other depth options have been retained via the practice squad. And with five spots still open — offensive tackle Lorenz Metz carries an exception due to his international status — it would not be a surprise if more players let go over the weekend are eventually brought back.
Also expected to join the mix is interior offensive lineman Jake Kubas, who spent the last two seasons with the Giants and has started three games. He is reportedly set to be added in the near future, even though the signing was not yet part of Monday’s announcement.
This leaves punter Mitch Wishnowsky as the only outside addition thus far.
Wishnowsky, 34, originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick by the 49ers in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Utah product spent his first six seasons in San Francisco and later also had stints in Washington and Buffalo. In New England, he will help replace Bryce Baringer.
Even though Baringer had made the initial 53-man roster, an injury suffered in preseason cast doubt over his availability for Week 1. The fourth-year punter has since been moved to injured reserve, knocking him out at least four weeks and opening the door for Wishnowsky to possibly fill his shoes during the early parts of the season.
