A pair of additions required a pair of subtractions in Foxborough.
Javon Baker will be one of them. The New England Patriots plan to waive the wide receiver from the initial 53-man roster, as first reported Wednesday by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Baker, 23, had outlasted the NFL’s deadline the afternoon prior. He will now be subject to the wire and could return as a member of the practice squad if unclaimed.
The former transfer from Alabama to Central Florida was selected the fourth round of the 2024 draft
class at No. 110 overall. From there, Baker appeared in 11 games as a Patriots rookie and found space on a 46-yard kickoff return. On the offensive side, his first career reception did not arrive until the January finale and gained 12 yards.
The 2025 preseason went on to span 10 targets and a single catch for Baker. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound wideout began to carve a role as a gunner, however, seeing 20 snaps on special teams in his battle for a roster spot.
“In Javon’s case, he’s a wide receiver, and I think the more that he does the special teams, I think the better that he’s gotten,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said last week. “And he’ll understand how he can use his play strength, his speed, some of the receiving tools and fundamentals as a gunner, potentially.”
The Patriots entered Wednesday with a receiver room of eight. Veteran Kendrick Bourne has since been granted his release, leaving Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III on the active depth chart.
Corresponding moves loomed after the organization claimed quarterback Tommy DeVito and cornerback Charles Woods off waivers at 12 p.m. ET.
