Ben Brown is back on the New England Patriots’ 53-man roster, less than a week after he was released, according to Boston.com reporting by Khari A. Thompson on Sept. 1, 2026. The club also signed linebacker Erick Hunter to the active roster, announced multiple practice-squad additions and revealed teammates’ selections for team captains.
The Boston.com story says five players were added to the practice squad but lists only four names. Patriots Report is flagging that discrepancy here and will update once the team posts its official transactions.
Ben Brown status
Ben Brown was released earlier in the week and re-signed to the 53-man roster on Tuesday, per Boston.com. The report notes Brown missed a significant amount of time after suffering a preseason injury; the story cautions he “could end up missing more time,” language that should be read as projection rather than fact.
Procedurally, if the Patriots place Brown on injured reserve with a designation to return, roster rules would require him to miss at least the first four regular-season games. That is a conditional timing rule and not a medical determination; any such move would be reflected in the official transaction and injury reports from the team.
For readers who want more on Brown’s offseason participation, see prior coverage of his early-team work: Brown First Day OTA Practice Patriots, which documents his OTA and early practice appearances this offseason and helps establish the timeline leading into training camp and the preseason.
Roster additions: Erick Hunter and 53-man moves
The Patriots added linebacker Erick Hunter to the 53-man roster, per Boston.com. The report lists Hunter at 6-foot-2, 224 pounds; he earned FCS All-American honors at Morgan State and spent training camp with the Detroit Lions before his release. Hunter’s immediate role is expected to be developmental with special-teams opportunities while coaches evaluate him in regular-season practice and pregame walkthroughs.
Boston.com also recaps Brown’s 2025 usage: he appeared in all 17 games and made four starts, primarily at center and with experience sliding to guard when needed. That prior availability helps explain why the Patriots opted to bring him back amid late-week roster tinkering.
Practice squad additions (what we know)
Boston.com reports that five players were added to the practice squad but only provides four names: K.J. Britt, Jalen Hunt, Jake Kubas and Jose Ramirez. The story notes K.J. Britt had spent time with the Patriots in camp; the other three are presented as additions to the group’s depth. Because the article specifies five additions but lists only four names, Patriots Report flags the fifth practice-squad slot as unconfirmed pending the team’s official transaction log.
Team captains named by teammates
Per Boston.com, players named as team captains in a teammates’ vote were Drake Maye, Marcus Jones, Morgan Moses, Robert Spillane, Hunter Henry and Kevin Byard. Those selections represent a mix of offensive and defensive leadership heading into the opener and reflect who the locker room leaned on during camp and the preseason.
What this means for Week 1 depth and what to watch
Reinstating Ben Brown preserves interior offensive-line depth while the team monitors his recovery. Given the reported preseason injury and missed practice time, fans should watch the Patriots’ official injury reports and midweek practice participation updates for clearer signs on Brown’s availability.
- Interior OL: Brown’s practice designations will affect how the team deploys backup centers and guard depth on game days.
- Linebacker rotation: Erick Hunter is a developmental add; expect special-teams work before any defensive snaps.
- Practice-squad depth: the unconfirmed fifth practice-squad name keeps one roster detail open; the team’s transaction log will resolve it.
Coaches often use early-season gameday elevations from the practice squad, so the confirmed practice-squad group matters for in-season depth and emergency elevations if injuries occur.
Key takeaways
- Ben Brown is back on the 53-man roster but carries an injury history this preseason; any IR designation would trigger a minimum four-game absence if designated to return.
- Erick Hunter joins the active roster as a developmental linebacker with special-teams upside.
- Boston.com lists four practice-squad names but reports five additions — the fifth name remains unconfirmed until the Patriots publish the official transactions.
Source attribution and next steps
This story is grounded in Boston.com’s reporting by Khari A. Thompson on Sept. 1, 2026. Read the original Boston.com story here: Patriots bring back Ben Brown, sign 5 players to practice squad, and name team captains (Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC).
What to watch next: confirm the unnamed fifth practice-squad addition in the Patriots’ official transaction log, monitor Ben Brown’s midweek practice designations and whether the team places him on IR with a designation to return — which would require missing at least the first four regular-season games under roster rules. Patriots Report will update this article as the team posts official transactions and injury designations.
