Pro Football Rumors’ “Minor NFL Transactions” update on Sept. 1, 2026 lists a compact group of roster changes around the NFL — and includes two active additions for the New England Patriots. Per Pro Football Rumors, the Patriots re-signed Ben Brown to the 53-man roster and added Erick Hunter as roster depth.
Rumors/Projections: The following notes and roster implications are rooted in Pro Football Rumors’ reporting and are subject to change as teams adjust final 53-man rosters and practice reports. Language that projects playing time or role is speculative and labeled accordingly.
Minor NFL Transactions: full transaction list
Patriots focus: who is Ben Brown and what this means
Pro Football Rumors reports the Patriots have added Ben Brown to the active 53-man roster. Brown entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss and, per the Pro Football Rumors item, has spent time with several organizations. The report notes Brown was previously signed off an NFL practice squad and went on to start games at center in that earlier stint.
Brown’s familiarity with interior line work is the core reason for this move. Per Pro Football Rumors, New England’s signing restores experienced depth along the interior and gives the coaching staff a veteran who has worked in multiple blocking assignments. The report frames the signing as depth insurance rather than a guaranteed starting shake-up.
For readers tracking Brown’s acclimation to Patriots work, see our earlier coverage of his first practices in Foxborough: Brown First Day OTA Practice Patriots. That prior story offers context on his early practice snaps; Pro Football Rumors supplies the transaction-level reporting that confirms this roster change.
Short note: Erick Hunter and linebacker depth
Pro Football Rumors lists Erick Hunter among the Patriots’ additions to the active roster. The report identifies Hunter as a depth piece and special-teams option. As with Brown, the source does not project a fixed role — teams often add veteran linebackers to bolster special teams and provide emergency coverage for Week 1.
Expect Hunter to be evaluated on special teams immediately; any defensive snaps would likely be contingent on in-game needs or further roster churn. Pro Football Rumors’ update is transactional in nature and stops short of projecting long-term roles.
League roundup: claims, waivers and IR placements
The Pro Football Rumors item groups several injury-settlement waivers and claim transactions from around the league. Arizona is listed as waiving both Josh Minkins and Xavier Weaver with injury settlements; Seattle reported Brock Lampe and Chris Paul Jr. in similar settlement situations. The report also notes New Orleans claimed Decamerion Richardson off waivers and placed Lorenzo Styles Jr. on injured reserve.
Injury-settlement transactions mean teams and players reached a financial agreement tied to an injury, but Pro Football Rumors does not provide medical specifics in this update. Waiver claims, such as Tampa Bay’s reported claim of Kevin Knowles, can cause ripple effects on depth charts as clubs shuffle players to finalize rosters before Week 1.
What to watch next
- Monitor New England’s official roster transaction log and practice reports for confirmation and any follow-up moves involving offensive-line or linebacker depth.
- Watch Patriots preseason and Week 1 practice snaps to see whether Ben Brown draws rotation snaps or remains a depth option; Pro Football Rumors frames this signing as roster insurance.
- Track waiver-wire activity leaguewide — claimed players (per Pro Football Rumors) can prompt additional moves that impact depth charts, especially at cornerback and interior line.
- Check team injury reports for updates: injury settlements and IR placements listed by Pro Football Rumors lack medical detail and may be updated by clubs.
All roster moves and status notes in this story are reported by Pro Football Rumors. For the original Pro Football Rumors transaction list, see: Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/26 (Ely Allen, Sept. 1, 2026, 6:38 p.m.).
