Mitch Wishnowsky has been elevated to the New England Patriots’ active roster for this week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a report by Nate Bouda at NFLTradeRumors.co published Sept. 19, 2026. The move was reported Sept. 19 and is presented here as a roster elevation reported by NFLTradeRumors; fans should await an official Patriots transaction notice for final confirmation.
What happened: Patriots elevate Mitch Wishnowsky
Per NFLTradeRumors, the Patriots elevated Mitch Wishnowsky to the active roster on Sept. 19, 2026 for the team’s Week matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The report describes this as an elevation for the game, which typically indicates a temporary roster addition to address immediate needs on special teams.
At the time of the NFLTradeRumors post, the New England Patriots had not posted an official transaction on the team’s transaction page. Readers can check the Patriots’ official transaction log for confirmation: patriots.com/news/transactions.
Why the move matters this week vs. Pittsburgh
Elevating a veteran punter for a single game can have immediate tactical effects. A reliable punter influences field position, net yardage and the ability to pin opponents deep — all critical against a physical team like the Steelers.
Situational punts (directional kicks, coffin-corner attempts and punts inside the 20) change defensive starting points and fourth-down decision-making. Having Mitch Wishnowsky available gives New England’s coaches a tested option for those situations while they assess short-term needs and depth.
Wishnowsky’s recent team and contract history
As reported by NFLTradeRumors, Mitch Wishnowsky was a fourth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2019 out of Utah. His career path included an extension with San Francisco, a brief practice-squad stint in Washington, and a tenure with the Buffalo Bills beginning in September 2025.
NFLTradeRumors reports Wishnowsky re-signed with Buffalo in March 2026 and was later released during final roster cuts ahead of the 2026 season, leaving him available for this Patriots elevation. These timeline items are sourced to Nate Bouda’s Sept. 19, 2026 NFLTradeRumors post and should be treated as reported history until or unless the teams provide official confirmations.
By the numbers: 2024 punt stats
Below are the recent teams and the 2024 punt sample cited by NFLTradeRumors to give readers a performance snapshot.
The 2024 line from the NFLTradeRumors report shows 38 punts, a 41.8 yard average, 18 punts inside the 20 and 3 touchbacks. Those figures are presented here as the specific 2024 sample cited by the source.
What it means for Patriots special teams depth
Elevating a veteran punter for a game improves short-term special-teams depth by ensuring a rostered specialist beyond any primary option. That matters for injury contingency and for choosing a punting style that matches game-plan needs (directional vs. distance-focused kicks).
For coaches, a veteran with experience handling placement and directional punts gives more in-game flexibility. For the roster, this is functionally a depth and contingency move unless followed by an official signing or longer-term transaction.
Uncertainties and confirmation
The elevation is sourced to Nate Bouda’s Sept. 19, 2026 post on NFLTradeRumors.co. At the time of that report, the New England Patriots had not published an official transaction notice confirming the elevation as anything other than a game-day elevation.
Until the Patriots post a transaction on their official site, treat this as a reported roster elevation and not a confirmed long-term signing. Check the Patriots’ official transaction page for updates: patriots.com/news/transactions.
What to watch next
Key next steps for fans and beat reporters:
- Watch the Patriots’ official transaction log for a confirmation or additional detail.
- Check the game-day active/inactive list to see if Wishnowsky dresses and whether he punts during the game.
- If he plays, monitor net punt average, touchback rate and punts inside the 20 for the quickest measure of impact.
This item is based on Nate Bouda’s Sept. 19, 2026 report at NFLTradeRumors.co. Treat transaction details as reported and await official team confirmation for final status.
