Minor NFL Transactions on Sept. 22, 2026 centered on special teams and short-term injury moves — and the New England Patriots figure in the list. The biggest Patriots-relevant update: Mitch Wishnowsky was signed to New England’s active roster after being elevated from the practice squad and handled punts in the club’s first two games, with early numbers reported.
Minor NFL Transactions — Full transaction list
Below are the confirmed, sourced moves from the Sept. 22 transaction log. Each bullet links to the Pro Football Rumors report for quick verification; outside reporting cited in that story is noted in parentheses.
- Scott Daly — Signed by the Chicago Bears off the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad (Pro Football Rumors: source).
- Beau Gardner — Waived by the Chicago Bears; CHGO Sports’ Adam Hoge was cited in the Pro Football Rumors coverage alleging multiple poor snaps, including one that led to a blocked field goal (Pro Football Rumors: source).
- Bishop Fitzgerald — Signed by the Detroit Lions from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad; the Pro Football Rumors piece cites Pro Football Focus for preseason performance notes (Pro Football Rumors: source).
- Joe Bachie — Released by the Detroit Lions; the original report noted his early special-teams snap share and described a practice-squad return as a possible next step (speculative) (Pro Football Rumors: source).
- Micheal Clemons — Placed on injured reserve by the Indianapolis Colts; Pro Football Rumors reported a toe injury and included contract context (Pro Football Rumors: source).
- Taki Taimani — Waived from IR by the Minnesota Vikings (Pro Football Rumors: source).
- Mitch Wishnowsky — Signed by the New England Patriots to the active roster after a practice-squad elevation and early game work; Pro Football Rumors provided early punt averages in its report (Pro Football Rumors: source).
- Cal Adomitis — Signed by the New Orleans Saints off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad for long-snapping depth (Pro Football Rumors: source).
Projection note: Any next-step roster outcomes mentioned (practice-squad re-signings, expected playing-time bumps for backups) are speculative projections from the original reporting and are explicitly marked as such throughout this piece.
Table: quick reference of the Sept. 22 minor transactions
Special teams ripple effects
Special teams depth was the dominant theme of these transactions. Long snapper continuity and punting stability are immediate concerns after the Bears and Saints made changes. A single snapping lapse can alter field-goal outcomes and momentum, so teams often prioritize experienced long snappers during the season.
The Bears’ decision to bring back Scott Daly and waive rookie Beau Gardner was framed around snapping reliability; the “bad snaps” allegation and the cited blocked field-goal incident came via CHGO Sports’ Adam Hoge as relayed in the Pro Football Rumors story and should be treated as reported commentary rather than independently verified fact.
The Saints’ pickup of Cal Adomitis was positioned as depth while Zach Wood deals with a calf issue, per the report. On the punting side, Mitch Wishnowsky‘s elevation and continued roster spot in New England matters because he assumed immediate game-day duties.
Pro Football Rumors reported Wishnowsky’s early-season work and provided punt averages that offer a snapshot of special teams performance: the source cited a net average of 45.3 yards and a gross average of 41.5 yards per punt in his early action (see source link). Those reported figures are useful context but should be read as the source’s reported numbers.
Injury and depth impact: Clemons and related ripples
The Colts’ placement of Micheal Clemons on injured reserve is the other roster event with clear short-term ripple effects. Pro Football Rumors reported Clemons suffered a toe injury and will miss at least four games; the article also referenced the two-year, $17MM contract he signed in Indianapolis this offseason.
Clemons’ absence was noted as likely to increase playing time for other Colts defensive linemen — that outcome was described as a projection in the original reporting and is repeated here as speculative, not a confirmed roster move.
What this means for the Patriots
For New England, the key takeaway is a short-term boost to special teams stability. Mitch Wishnowsky was elevated from the practice squad and handled punts in Weeks 1 and 2; Pro Football Rumors reported early averages (net and gross) and the team has kept him on the active roster.
Those reported numbers suggest the Patriots will enter upcoming games with a known commodity at punter rather than an emergency option. That matters in close field-position battles and while New England adjusts its roster after other changes. Any further roster moves around the punting or long-snapping positions would be speculative until confirmed by team transactions.
Source attribution and notes on uncertainty
This transaction summary is based on the Pro Football Rumors report linked below. Where that story relays outside reporting, those items are explicitly attributed: CHGO Sports’ Adam Hoge for the Gardner snapping allegations and Pro Football Focus for preseason performance notes about Bishop Fitzgerald. Several next-step roster outcomes mentioned in the source are speculative projections and are explicitly labeled as such in this update.
For the complete, original transaction list and context, see the Pro Football Rumors coverage: Minor NFL Transactions: 9/22/26.
Source: Pro Football Rumors — https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/09/minor-nfl-transactions-9-22-26
