A different New York Jets team will soon head to Gillette Stadium. But it’ll be a return trip for some.
Between the active roster, practice squad and reserve lists, five former New England Patriots remain in Florham Park following the NFL trade deadline. Additional familiarity remains in Foxborough, too.
Here’s a glance through the AFC East ties as Thursday’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff nears.
NEW YORK
Andrew Beck, fullback — Part of the 2019 Patriots undrafted class, Beck was waived during the league’s 53-man roster
deadline that summer. Subsequently claimed by the Denver Broncos, the former Texas Longhorn has since appeared in 79 games and started 22. A past recipient of the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, Beck’s career includes 36 touches for 236 yards and five touchdowns. The 29-year-old fullback made his way back to the AFC East in February after stops with the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans.
Chukwuma Okorafor, offensive tackle — Ahead of the 2025 league year, the Patriots released Okorafor. The 28-year-old had arrived in Foxborough 11 months prior on a one-year deal carrying a base value of $4 million. But after playing 12 snaps as the team’s starting left tackle only to be replaced, Okorafor was moved to the left squad list. And as the window for a roster exemption closed, he reverted to the reserves for the remainder of the season. The veteran bookend joined the Jets in March and has since seen action in seven games. By way of Western Michigan, Okorafor entered the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2018 draft at No. 92 overall.
Liam Fornadel, guard — Now on New York’s practice squad, Fornadel had been released from New England’s in the final weeks of last campaign. The 26-year-old offensive lineman arrived in Foxborough as a street free agent in 2024. After being waived at the 53-man roster deadline following a preseason that included snaps at left guard, center and right guard, Fornadel signed to the practice squad at its formation. The undrafted James Madison Duke spent 2022 with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He then moved on to the XFL-turned-UFL with the DC Defenders. This past spring, Fornadel won a UFL championship.
Byron Cowart, defensive tackle — Placed on injured reserve at the end of the preseason, Cowart had joined the Jets as a free agent in March. The 29-year-old defensive tackle out of Auburn and Maryland originally entered the NFL with the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2019 draft at No. 159 overall. Cowart played in 19 games while in Foxborough, starting 14. He recorded 29 tackles with one sack and one pass deflection before spending 2021 on the physically unable to perform list. After being claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts, Cowart has spent time with an additional handful of teams.
Nick Folk, kicker — A run that began in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft is still going for the former rookie Pro Bowler. Folk worked out and re-signed with the Jets during training camp. The 41-year-old had previously been the organization’s kicker from 2010 through 2016. And from 2019 through 2022, he climbed from the practice squad to the active roster for the Patriots. Going 108-of-121 on field goals and 116-of-127 on extra points, Folk earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week on four occasions. He tied for the league lead in scoring and also set a league record for the most consecutive conversions from inside 50 yards. The stay ended via trade. Around for 251 games, plus a tour in the Alliance of American Football, Folk has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans.
NEW ENGLAND
Jonathan Ward, running back — Ward joined the practice squad in Foxborough following a workout in late October. He was re-signed in that capacity on Tuesday. The running back made previous stops with five clubs, including both clubs that call MetLife Stadium home. For a week in the fall of 2022, he found himself with the Jets. The Central Michigan product stands 46 games into his NFL career. Undrafted in 2020, Ward’s journey includes 91 yards across 22 carries, 52 yards across six catches, as well one touchdown.
Morgan Moses, offensive tackle — Through 10 starts this fall, Moses has stayed in for 98.1 percent of the snaps as part of the rebuilt offensive line. The 34-year-old right tackle landed with the Patriots in March on a three-year, $24 million pact. Entering the NFL out of Virginia in the third round of the 2014 draft at No. 66 overall, Moses stands 175 games in. The steady presence has also been a member of the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens. He’s twice been a Jet, too. Beginning in 2021 and continuing in 2024 via trade, Moses logged 30 starts during his time elsewhere in the division.
Leonard Taylor III, defensive tackle — The Patriots added Taylor to the practice squad midway through October after he cleared waivers via the Jets. The 23-year-old defensive tackle entered the NFL with New York as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He outlasted the 53-man roster deadline as a rookie and appeared in 16 games since then while there. The Miami Hurricane’s stay spanned 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pair of batted passes. He handled 308 snaps on defense and 14 snaps on special teams.
