Patriots set 53-man roster, add practice squad players and announce throwback game dates

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Eliot Wolf completed the team’s 53-man roster for the 2026 season and added 12 players to the practice squad, according to the latest roster moves released by the organization. The moves include claims off waivers of tight end Cameron Latu and linebacker Darius Muasau, as well as several other signings intended to address depth at various positions.

The Patriots also announced two throwback games for the season: a matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 11 and a contest versus the Minnesota Vikings on December 10.

Analysts and local commentators provided their assessments of the roster. Evan Lazar highlighted the practice-squad additions, while Steve Balestrieri and Conor Ryan discussed the implications of the final cuts for the team’s depth chart, particularly at running back and linebacker. Hector Longo noted that the release of defensive end Ben Brown appears to be a procedural move related to roster rules rather than a performance decision.

The team’s roster decisions are expected to continue evolving as players become available and as the Patriots address remaining positional needs throughout the preseason.