Patriots swap practice squad wide receivers in latest roster shuffle

The New England Patriots continue to retool their wide receiver depth chart just ahead of Week 1.

In the latest of a busy set of moves after naming their initial 53-man roster, the Patriots are signing rookie wide receiver T.J. Luther to their practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. As a corresponding move, they are releasing WR Thyrick Pitts from the practice squad, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.

Luther, 23, had previously spent the 2023 off-season with the New York Jets, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina. Pitts signed with the Patriots' practice squad after previously spending most of training camp with New England.

The move comes after the Pats on Thursday signed 2020 first-round pick Jalen Reagor, who was last with the Minnesota Vikings. Ty Montgomery is also listed as a wide receiver on the Patriots' official practice squad roster.

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Tyquan Thornton is the only Patriots receiver to be placed on injured reserve after the team finalized the initial 53-man roster. Entering Week 1, the Patriots' wide receivers on the main roster are Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and rookies Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas.

Montgomery, Reagor, and Luther will be candidates for elevation to the main roster for the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, along with the rest of the practice squad.

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The New England Patriots handle the assigning of rookie jersey numbers different than other teams in the NFL. Rather than getting their number from the start of spring practices, the Patriots assign the rookies class numbers based on where they were drafted - starting at 50 for the first draft pick, 51 for the second, and on and on with UDFAs following sequentially (although some numbers that are retired, like 56 and 57, are skipped). Players then get regular numbers ahead of the first preseason game.

Yet when the Patriots initially announced the jersey numbers for their rookie class before Week 1 of the preseason, it was clear some would end up changing. Some players had numbers that didn't make sense, while others had numbers that were already taken by veteran establish players on the roster.

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Ahead of Thursday's practice the Patriots released those new numbers, with the rookies having officially made the roster. The players were wearing those numbers at Thursday's practice.

In total, four rookies on the active roster got new numbers. There were also some re-assignments on the practice squad. For those keeping track at home, where's whose number changed...

The NFL is letting players wear No. 0 for the first time this year, and given Gonzalez wore that in college it seemed like a logical fit. So, many were surprised when he got No. 19 to start the preseason.

Gonzalez' number is changing, but it still isn't No. 0. Instead, he'll get the No. 6 that was vacated when Nick Folk was traded.

Sow goes up one number from No. 61 to No. 62 - the number he wore in college. That number was previously taken by fellow offensive lineman Bill Murray, who was cut this week and signed with the Bears' practice squad.

Like Sow, Ryland increases his number by one from No. 38 to No. 39. Ryland wore No. 38 in college, but that's currently taken by Rhamondre Stevenson, so he was always going to have to change.

Baringer was also wearing a number currently taken by an established Patriots player - Matthew Judon's No. 9. His college No. 99 is also taken by Keion White. Instead he'll take No. 17, which was worn by tight end Scotty Washington before he got cut last week.

That number has recently been associated with bad luck in New England, specifically for wide receivers. He'll be just the third Patriots punter to wear the number though, after Luke Prestridge (1984) and Michael Palardy (2022).

The Patriots also had three number changes on their practice squad. Punter Corliss Waitman went from No. 15 to No. 39, linebacker Joe Giles-Harris went from No. 53 to No. 44, and wide receiver Thyrick Pitts went from No. 13 to No. 83.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.