Hassan Haskins signed with the New England Patriots one day before their preseason opener at Gillette Stadium and was on the field that night, logging offensive snaps and immediate work on kickoff coverage, according to Pats Pulpit. The late add gave coaches a live look at his contact balance, short-yardage instincts and special-teams value as New England sorts depth ahead of final roster decisions.
The 26-year-old running back carried five times for 15 yards in his preseason debut and played on kickoff coverage, per the Pats Pulpit game recap. The appearance gave the Patriots a quick snapshot of what Haskins offers: power between the tackles, low-center-of-gravity contact after the catch and a willingness to take on special-teams assignments right away.
Haskins’ preseason snaps: what happened on the field
Haskins entered the game in the second half and had a mixed but productive short sample. He finished with five carries for 15 rushing yards, with one play standing out: a designed gap run that picked up what looked like a 13-yard gain before an offensive holding penalty wiped it away. That play still illustrated his ability to hit creases decisively and gain yards after first contact.
Beyond the box score, Haskins immediately joined the kickoff coverage team and was involved in multiple special-teams snaps, a sign coaches wanted to evaluate his tackling and lane discipline under live conditions. For a late addition, getting onto the core special-teams units is exactly the kind of contribution that can secure a roster spot when depth is tight.
“It’s nice, man. That’s my guy, for sure.”
— Hassan Haskins, on reuniting with Mike Vrabel (Pats Pulpit)
Why the Mike Vrabel reunion matters for New England
Haskins’ signing reunited him with head coach Mike Vrabel, who originally drafted Haskins in Tennessee, and placed him in a room with running backs coach Tony Dews, who is familiar with Haskins’ strengths and special-teams background. That familiarity can shorten a late add’s learning curve, both in installing early-down packages and in special-teams alignment.
Coaches often favor players they’ve coached before because shared terminology and demonstrated trust in practice and meetings speed integration. For a veteran minimum signing like Haskins, a Vrabel connection can translate into more immediate opportunities in game plans and a clearer evaluation window in the remaining preseason contests. For more context on how Vrabel has discussed roster expectations, see the Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6 9 remarks where Vrabel outlined short-term roster approaches.
“Your attributes to special teams — I just always did it in college.”
— Hassan Haskins on special-teams work (Pats Pulpit)
Career snapshot and how Haskins fits the Patriots’ backfield picture
Across his first three NFL seasons, Haskins’ career totals—reported by Pats Pulpit—include 76 rushing attempts for 229 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns, plus 18 receptions for 119 receiving yards. Those numbers frame him as a rotational/backup option at the NFL level who pairs short-area power with situational passing-game competency.
Given the Patriots’ current depth chart and the club’s emphasis on special-teams versatility, Haskins projects as a candidate for a role that mixes limited offensive snaps with frequent special-teams duty. That profile is a common path to the final 53-man roster for veteran backs added late in camp, but it is not a guarantee; New England will weigh positional needs, salary considerations and practice performance after each preseason game.
What Patriots fans should watch the rest of the preseason
1) Special-teams snaps: Track whether Haskins continues to appear on kickoff and punt coverage units. Consistent snaps on those units increase a bubble player’s value dramatically.
2) Short-yardage usage: Watch goal-line and third-and-short scenarios. Haskins’ build and contact balance make him a candidate for those packages, and coaches often use preseason opportunities to test situational reps.
3) Offensive chemistry and pass protection: Observe how quickly he picks up blitz pickups and pass pro assignments when working with both first- and second-team offensive packages. Reliable pass protection can be the difference between a practice roster candidate and a 53-man roster spot.
Bottom line and source attribution
Hassan Haskins’ late signing and immediate preseason action give the Patriots a veteran back with clear special-teams upside and a coaching-history connection to Mike Vrabel. That combination makes him a plausible candidate to compete for a roster spot, but the outcome will hinge on consistent preseason performance and how New England prioritizes position depth for the regular season.
Details in this quick update are sourced primarily to Pats Pulpit: “New Patriots running back ‘excited’ to reunite with Mike Vrabel”. Photo credit: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. For readers wanting more on Vrabel’s roster approach, consult the team’s recent remarks in the Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6 9 transcript on Patriots Report.
Note: All game details, quotes and career totals in this piece are reported by Pats Pulpit and cited above. Roster outcomes remain uncertain until the Patriots release their final 53-man roster.
