With just over a week until their season opener in Miami, the New England Patriots continue fine-tuning their 53-man roster. On Tuesday, the team added two players to the mix: offensive lineman Ben Brown was re-signed one day after his release, while rookie linebacker Erick Hunter was welcomed as the latest new face to arrive. These roster moves have impacted the team’s financial commitment, with salary cap expert Miguel Benzan reporting that New England lost roughly $3.6 million, bringing the club’s remaining cap space to $16.59 million.
Roster Reconfiguration and Ben Brown’s Return
The Patriots’ decision to bring back Ben Brown just 24 hours after his release keeps him on the 53-man roster despite his recent injury status. Brown, who played in all 17 games last year and made four starts, had been one of the team’s top reserves on the offensive line during training camp. He missed a significant amount of time after being injured in the preseason and could end up missing more time; however, the team avoided placing him on the injured list with a designation to return, which would have forced him to miss at least the first four games. Brown primarily plays center but has experience filling in at guard. His return stabilizes the interior offensive line, which now features Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu, Greg Van Roten, and Walter Rouse.
Rookie LB Erick Hunter and Defensive Depth
The addition of Erick Hunter brings a new athletic dimension to the Patriots’ linebacker corps. The 6-foot-2, 224-pound linebacker was not selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he was a standout at Morgan State, where he finished second in school history with 298 combined tackles and earned FCS All-American honors. Hunter performed well during pre-draft testing, registering a Relative Athletic Score of 8.64. Notably, he ranks in the 98th percentile among linebackers over the last 40 years in both the 40-yard dash and the broad jump.
While the Patriots’ linebacker group is set at the top with proven starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, the 23-year-old Hunter adds depth alongside Namdi Obiazor and Darius Muasau. Hunter previously spent the summer with the Lions, where he played on five special teams units—kickoff return, kickoff coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal/extra point block—and registered three tackles. His athletic profile suggests he will be actively used in the kicking game early in the season.
Practice Squad Additions and Team Leadership
Beyond the 53-man roster, the Patriots also added five players to the practice squad on Tuesday. Britt, who participated in camp with the team this summer, along with newcomers Jalen Hunt (defensive tackle), Jake Kubas (offensive lineman), and Jose Ramirez (linebacker).
As the team prepares for the upcoming season, they announced their team captains on Wednesday following a vote by their teammates. The selected captains are quarterback Drake Maye, Marcus Jones, Morgan Moses, Robert Spillane, Hunter Henry, and Kevin Byard. With the roster currently at the 53-man limit, the team enters the final stretch before the opener in Miami with these specific personnel groupings in place.