Veterans Mike Brown and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. reverted to the New England Patriots’ practice squad on Monday after serving as standard elevations at EverBank Stadium.
The 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars marked the first game action of the 2026 regular season for the safety as well as the defensive tackle.
Brown, 26, recorded one stop against running back Bhayshul Tuten while handling 12 snaps on defense and 19 snaps on special teams. With Dell Pettus on injured reserve and Craig Woodson on the
wrong side of questionable due to a shoulder injury, he worked as the third safety on Sunday afternoon behind captain Kevin Byard III and trade acquisition Jaylen Reed.
Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Brown spent time on the practice squads of the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns before heading to the Tennessee Titans’ 53-man roster late in his rookie campaign. The Miami of Ohio product remained in Nashville until he was not tendered as a restricted free agent last March. He signed in Foxborough soon after and joined the practice squad after being released as a vested vet at the cutdown deadline. Brown now stands 36 appearances, including a handful of starts, into his career. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound safety has had a hand in 61 tackles and two passes defensed across 515 snaps on defense and 779 snaps in the kicking game.
Pharms, 29, got the start on Sunday for a base front that was missing veteran outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones due to a shoulder injury and also recently lost rookie edge Quintayvious Hutchins to injured reserve. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive lineman notched one tackle in run support and stayed in for 13 defensive snaps.
New England brought Pharms back on the initial practice squad after he cleared waivers as part of the August cutdown. He now finds himself 32 games, including six starts, into his series of transactions with the organization. Undrafted out of Sacramento City College, San Joaquin Delta College and Friends University in 2020, the ex-linebacker made stops with the Champions Indoor Football League’s Wichita Force and USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers before entering the NFL ranks prior to training camp in 2022. Pharms’ Patriots tenure has brought 46 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery across 607 snaps on defense and 128 snaps on special teams.
Two standard elevations remain for both call-ups before 53-man agreements would be required to take the field. For now, head coach Mike Vrabel’s 1-2 team moves forward with an open spot on the active roster.
The Buffalo Bills host next Sunday’s AFC East opener at Highmark Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.
