Patriots make nine transactions ahead of season finale vs. Bills
The Patriots turned over nearly 10% of their roster before their Week 18 game against the Bills at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots, who had one open roster, spot, signed tight end Jack Westover, defensive end Truman Jones, linebacker Monty Rice and cornerback Miles Battle from their practice squad to the 53-man roster. To make room, they placed wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (shoulder), center Ben Brown (concussion) and safety Jabrill Peppers (hamstring), all of whom had already been ruled out for Week 18, on injured reserve.
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Additionally, the Patriots elevated wide receiver Alex Erickson and tight end Mitchell Wilcox from the practice squad to the gameday roster.
Erickson has been handling punt return duties with Marcus Jones on IR.
Westover and Battle are both undrafted rookies. Westover has spent two games on the Patriots’ gameday roster as a practice squad elevation. Rice, a 2021 third-round pick by the Titans, and Wilcox, a league veteran, have also played two games with the Patriots this season as practice squad elevations.
The Patriots now have five tight ends available to play, including Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and rookie Jaheim Bell. Perhaps Henry or Hooper could be held out to give young players a shot. Jones will help fill in for Yannick Ngakoue, who was waived after Week 17. Battle provides additional depth with Christian Gonzalez ruled out with a concussion.
Polk finishes his season with 12 catches for 87 yards with two touchdowns in a disappointing rookie campaign. Brown filled in admirably after David Andrews went down with a season-ending injury. Cole Strange is expected to start Week 18 at center. Peppers spent seven weeks on the commissioner’s exempt list after he pled not guilty to assault and drug charges in October. Peppers, who signed a three-year, $30 million contract extension this offseason, played six games.
It would benefit the Patriots in the future to lose to the Bills, who are expected to play backups, since it would ensure they’re picking No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.