Eleven moves remained in Foxborough. They arrived as the 2026 NFL roster deadline passed Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
The New England Patriots descended down to an initial 53-man roster by waiving running back Lan Larison, wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer, offensive tackle Jack Conley, defensive tackles Isaiah Iton and Casey Rogers, cornerback Kobee Minor and safety John Saunders Jr.
The club also released vested veterans in cornerback Kindle Vildor, safety Mike Brown and punter Matt Haack, while outside linebacker
Harold Landry III will officially begin the regular season on the physically unable to perform list.
Now announced, those marked the last transactions left from a long weekend.
Larison, 24, joined the Patriots as part of the organization’s 2025 undrafted class. The 5-foot-11, 209-pound running back out of UC Davis redshirted his rookie year on injured reserve after sustaining a foot injury last August. He went on log 39 rushing yards, 79 receiving yards, 78 kickoff return yards during his sophomore preseason while scoring one touchdown.
Palmer, 26, was claimed off waivers during the first week of August. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound wide receiver entered the NFL in the sixth round of the 2024 draft at No. 191 overall after stops at Snow College and UAB. He spent the majority of his initial two regular seasons on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad and made his official debut as a member of the 53-man roster last January.
Conley, 25, returned to New England in late August after originally entering the league as a rookie free agent out of Boston College in 2025. The 6-foot-7, 325-pounder offensive lineman had two brief stints on the Patriots’ practice squad last campaign. He went on to tour the practice squads of the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.
Iton, 24, re-signed with the Patriots heading into training camp in July after spending last year on injured reserve and not being tendered as an exclusive rights free agent in March. The 6-foot-2, 277-pound defensive lineman via Northern Colorado, Hutchinson Community College, Ole Miss and Rutgers had signed following a rookie minicamp tryout in 2025. He entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2024.
Rogers, 27, landed in Foxborough a week into training camp. The 6-foot-4, 294-pound defensive tackle originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent out of Oregon in 2024. He started his career with the New York Giants, for whom he appeared in three games over two separate stints, and has also spent time with the Buffalo Bills and UFL’s DC Defenders.
Minor, 24, became “Mr. Irrelevant” in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft at No. 257 overall. The cornerback by way of Texas Tech, Indiana and Memphis went on to appear in four games during his rookie regular season, posting one tackle across 39 snaps on defense and 21 snaps on special teams. Beginning as a member of the practice squad, he served as a three-time standard elevation on the way to taking a 53-man roster spot in January.
Saunders, 24, found a series of interceptions in training camp for New England and added another in the preseason. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound safety had been added to the active roster off the practice squad of the Miami Dolphins last fall. He later agreed to remain in the fold as a member of the practice squad after clearing waivers and re-upped on a futures contract. The former Miami RedHawks and Ole Miss safety went undrafted in 2025.
Vildor, 29, recorded one interception in preseason action for New England after agreeing to terms in March. The 5-foot-11, 189-pound cornerback entered the NFL with the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2020 draft at No. 163 overall. Amid a series of stops, including last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has totaled 140 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and two interceptions while appearing in 80 games and starting 27.
Brown, 27, signed as an unrestricted free agent in March. The 6-foot-1, 218-pound safety originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings out of Miami (Ohio) in 2022 and spent three years with the Tennessee Titans after stints on practice squads. He has played in 38 games, stating five, on the way to totaling 60 tackles and two passes defensed.
Haack, 32, agreed to terms with New England leading up to the preseason finale and proceeded to average 46.5 yards per punt with a trio of inside-the-20 efforts and a long of 63. It marked the 10th different NFL stop for Haack, a 2017 undrafted free agent out of Arizona State. The 6-foot, 205-pound left-footed veteran began training camp with the Washington Commanders. Through 110 career games, he has averaged 45 yards per punt and 39.9 net yards per punt.
Landry, 30, will now miss at least four games to begin the regular season. The 2025 Patriots captain opened training camp on physically unable to perform and had yet to resume practicing. Prior to arriving in Foxborough, the Boston College product accrued seven campaigns with the Tennessee Titans and earned one Pro Bowl nod. Taken in the second round of the 2018 draft at No. 41 overall, the 6-foot-2, 252-pound outside linebacker has tallied 446 tackles, 59 sacks, two interceptions, one safety, four forced fumbles and two recoveries.
Head coach Mike Vrabel’s locker room reduced from 91 to 73 players on the eve of the league’s cutdown deadline. Reports continued to roll in from morning to evening on Sunday.
That window saw running back Jam Miller, tight end Jack Westover, offensive linemen Joe Michalski and James Hudson III, defensive tackles Eric Gregory and Jeremiah Pharms Jr., outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson, inside linebacker Chad Muma all let go from the active fold.
Along the way came news that swing tackle Marcus Bryant and special teams captain Brenden Schooler would begin the regular season on injured reserve and the non-football injury list, respectively. And in the final hour, so did a trade with the Minnesota Vikings for lineman Walter Rouse.
More movement lies ahead with waiver claims and the formation of practice squads around the NFL set for Monday.
