After eight games away, Marcus Bryant’s stay on injured reserve is over.
The New England Patriots activated the offensive tackle and released veteran cornerback Kindle Vildor from the 53-man roster amid a series of moves announced Tuesday.
Bryant, 24, had been designated to return at the NFL’s cutdown deadline in August following a preseason ankle injury. His 21-day practice window opened in October and he has since gone from limited to full participation. Selected in the seventh round of the 2025
draft at No. 220 overall, Bryant outlasted the 53-man deadline as a rookie in Foxborough. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound swing tackle via Southern Methodist and Missouri went on to appear in 12 games for the Patriots last campaign, seeing 19 snaps on offense and 56 snaps on special teams.
Vildor, 28, began 2026 on New England’s practice squad and was promoted to the 53-man roster after serving as a standard elevation. A game ball followed for the 5-foot-11, 189-pound cornerback, who has appeared in five games this fall en route to seven tackles, one stop for loss, one forced fumble and one pass deflection. Chosen by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2020 draft at No. 163 overall, Vildor has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Through 85 career games, including 27 starts, the Georgia Southern product as had a hand in 147 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
The juggling continued elsewhere on Tuesday.
After losing linebacker K.J. Britt to the 53-man roster of the Lions the evening prior, the Patriots signed fellow linebacker Elias Neal to the practice squad and also released wide receiver Cameron Dorner and offensive lineman Jake Kubas.
Neal, 25, went undrafted in 2024 after recording 375 tackles, 12 sacks, five interceptions and five fumble recoveries while at Marshall. The 6-foot, 224-pound linebacker made the initial 53-man roster of the Los Angeles Rams during his rookie season before serving as a standard elevation from the practice squad during the 2025 and 2026 campaigns. He was released in late October. Including playoffs, Neal has appeared in 12 NFL games. The former third-team All-Sun Belt selection’s career includes 162 snaps on special teams and three tackles.
Dorner, 22, agreed to terms with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in May and was retained on the practice squad at its formation after clearing waivers in August. In between, his preseason audition featured four catches for 37 yards. The 6-foot-1, 188-pound rookie wide receiver spent three years at Division II Shepherd before enrolling at North Texas in 2025. From there, he totaled 56 receptions for 911 yards and eight touchdowns for the Mean Green.
Kubas, 26, joined New England’s practice squad as the calendar turned to September. The 6-foot-4, 308-pound guard entered the league as an undrafted rookie out of North Dakota State in 2024. A three-time FCS national champion, Kubas spent his previous two NFL seasons between the 53-man roster and practice squad of the New York Giants. He has appeared in five career games, starting three, while handling 198 snaps on offense and 16 snaps on special teams.
The Green Bay Packers visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
