The New England Patriots announced their latest Patriots practice squad signings on Aug. 31, 2026, adding 12 players shortly after reducing the roster down to 53 players. The group mixes veterans and developmental pieces, led by punter Mitch Wishnowsky, defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and running back Hassan Haskins.
This update reflects the team’s immediate post-cut roster plan as Mike Vrabel and his staff finalize depth heading into the regular season. The list below is taken from the transaction report published by NFLTradeRumors.co and is followed by context on the highest-interest names and what those additions mean for roster flexibility.
Practice squad additions (table)
Who to know from the list
Mitch Wishnowsky: The veteran punter is the highest-profile special-teams name on the list. As reported by NFLTradeRumors.co, Wishnowsky was a fourth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2019 out of Utah. The source notes he appeared in 13 games for the Buffalo Bills in 2024 and recorded 38 punts with a 41.8-yard average, 3 touchbacks and 18 punts inside the 20. The article also states Buffalo re-signed him in March 2026 before cutting him during final roster moves this week. Those facts are sourced directly to the NFLTradeRumors.co transaction report.
Jeremiah Pharms Jr.: Per NFLTradeRumors.co, Pharms went undrafted out of Friends University and was later selected by the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers in 2022. The source documents Pharms’ time on New England’s practice squad in 2023 and notes he appeared in three NFL games in 2025, recording three total tackles and one tackle-for-loss. Pharms’ path is an example of a player who has moved between developmental leagues and the Patriots’ personnel group.
Hassan Haskins: The source reports Haskins was a fourth-round pick in 2022 (No. 131 overall), spent time on injured reserve in 2023, later joined the Los Angeles Chargers and appeared in 12 games in 2025. NFLTradeRumors.co lists his 2025 line as 47 rushing yards on 17 carries (2.8 YPC) with four receptions for 13 yards. Those are the figures used here and are explicitly attributed to the cited report.
Other additions on the list are primarily developmental or depth pieces. Some are position-specific depth for practice periods; others are insurance for potential injuries or for special-teams rotations. The transaction list confirms only the signings; it does not guarantee elevations or active-roster time.
How Patriots practice squad signings affect the roster
Practice squad moves are about depth, evaluation and short-term roster flexibility. By adding 12 players, New England increases the pool available for elevations, injury coverage and situational needs during the regular season. The practice squad is also the primary internal option for quick replacements when a spot opens on the 53-man roster.
Specific impacts to note: veterans like Wishnowsky can be elevated primarily for special-teams needs, while mid-career players like Haskins and Pharms offer positional insurance at running back and defensive tackle. Younger or developmental signees provide the coaching staff opportunities to work on technique, scheme fit and physical conditioning without committing an active roster spot.
It is important to label any forecast about elevations as speculation. Whether a given practice-squad player will be promoted depends on injuries, performance in practice and coaching decisions; the transaction report simply confirms roster movement as of Aug. 31, 2026.
Next steps and what to watch
- Official transaction confirmations: Watch the Patriots’ daily transaction posts for any elevations or additional signings that adjust this list.
- Injury reports: Week-to-week injuries will be the primary driver of which practice-squad players get elevated for game day.
- Game-day elevations: The team can elevate practice-squad players on game day; veterans on the list are likeliest first options for short-term needs.
- League roster churn: Waiver-wire and cut-related movement around the NFL can create opportunities or force the Patriots to make corresponding adjustments.
Patriots Report will continue to monitor official team announcements, the transaction wire and weekly injury reports and will update this transaction log if the team posts elevations or additional roster moves.
Source and official note
This update is grounded in the transaction report published by NFLTradeRumors.co: Patriots Officially Add 12 Players To Practice Squad. All player history items and the stat lines quoted above are taken from that report. Any discussion of likely elevations or playing-time impact is presented as speculation and is not a confirmation of future roster moves.
Patriots Report author and newsroom note: This story uses the NFLTradeRumors.co transaction log as the primary source. We list the transactions and provide background only to the extent documented in the cited report.
