Patriots add tight end depth, place offensive lineman on IR
After making headlines for keeping 11 offensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster, the Patriots trimmed that number by one on Monday. With that they also added depth at tight end – a position they were notably thin at.
As posted on the NFL league wire on Monday, the Patriots have placed offensive lineman Riley Reiff on IR. To fill his spot on the active roster the team signed tight end Pharaoh Brown from the practice squad, then added defensive lineman Jeremiah Pharms to fill Brown’s practice squad spot.
READ MORE:
—Meet the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster for 2023
— The Patriots’ coaching staff is putting all their trust in Mac Jones
— Patriots claim second-year quarterback off waivers
Reiff, 34, was signed by the Patriots this offseason as one of their more notable additions on the offensive line, along with tackle Calvin Anderson. Reiff was repping as the team’s starting right tackle for most of the summer but struggled, and was moved inside to right guard after the first preseason game. He played well in that spot, but suffered an undisclosed knee injury in the preseason finale against the Titans.
Now on IR, Reiff has to miss at least the first four games of the season. The Patriots can activate him after that window, but there’s been no timetable given for how long it will be until he’s medically cleared to play.
In terms of a one-for-one swap, the Patriots shouldn’t feel Reiff’s loss immediately. He projected to be the top backup offensive lineman, with Mike Onwenu returning as the starting right guard (Onwenu didn’t return to practice from the PUP list until after Reiff got hurt). The top backup guard on the roster now projects to be rookie Atonio Mafi.
Foxborough, MA: New England Patriots offensive tackle Riley Reiff (74) works with a weight bag during 2023 training camp. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Brown, 29, gets Reiff’s roster spot just a week after joining the Patriots. He was signed to the practice squad last week after final roster cuts – the lone player to be signed to the practice squad who did not spend the summer with the Patriots. Originally, he’d signed with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Prior to that Brown had played for the Browns, Raiders, and Texans. Notably, he was in Houston for the 2020 season where he played for current Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. That was a career-year for Brown, who caught 14 passes for 13 yards and two touchdowns, while earning top 10 rankings among tight ends as both a run blocker and pass blocker from PFF.
At 6-foot-6, 258 pounds, Brown will likely be used in a primarily blocking role with the Patriots. That’s an element they didn’t have on their active roster prior to elevating Brown, with Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki primarily being receiving tight ends. In particular, look for the Patriots to make use of that skillset in Week 1 when the face the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant defensive front.
Finally, Pharms gets added to the practice squad after being waived last week as a part of final roster cuts. The 26-year-old defensive tackle spent all of last year on the Patriots’ practice squad. He’s occasionally been used as an offensive lineman in practice as well as playing on defense. Pharms has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Read more…
Patriots rookies get new numbers, again
CB Christian Gonzalez: 6
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (50) sprints during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
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.
OL Sidy Sow: 62
Foxborough, Massachusetts, Aug. 10, 2023: New England Patriots guard Sidy Sow lines up against the Houston Texans during a preseason game at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
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.
K Chad Ryland: 39
Aug 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots place kicker Chad Ryland (38) kicks the ball to the Houston Texans during the first half at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
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.
P Bryce Baringer: 19
Aug. 10, 2023; Foxborough, MA: New England Patriots punter Bryce Baringer (9) warms up before a preseason game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
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).
Practice squad
New England Patriots punter Corliss Waitman during a break in action at 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
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.
