Patriots elevate Lan Larison Mitch Wishnowsky ahead of Wednesday’s opener at Lumen Field, the team announced via Pats Pulpit on Aug. 22, 2026. The elevations to the active roster come with kickoff set for 8:20 p.m. ET in Seattle and are intended to address immediate depth at running back and the punting/specialist spot, per the Pats Pulpit report published on Aug. 22, 2026.
Patriots elevate Lan Larison Mitch Wishnowsky
Why Lan Larison was called up
The Patriots elevated Lan Larison from the practice squad after he went unclaimed at the 53-man roster deadline and was retained on the practice squad, according to Pats Pulpit. Listed at 5-foot-11, 209 pounds, Larison is a 24-year-old undrafted 2025 rookie and a UC Davis product who spent his initial season on injured reserve after a foot injury.
In limited preseason action referenced by the report, Larison totaled 39 rushing yards, 79 receiving yards and 78 kickoff return yards while scoring a preseason touchdown. Those all-purpose snaps — both as a runner and a returner — are why the Patriots view him as a multi-role depth piece rather than a single-use replacement. The report places him on the Week 1 depth chart behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson and rotational back Corey Kiner, marking Larison as a third-down/return option and special-teams contributor if used.
Transaction context: Larison was waived at roster cutdown and then signed to New England’s practice squad before this elevation. Under the standard elevation framework cited in the Pats Pulpit piece, Larison now has two standard call-ups remaining before the team would need to sign him to the 53-man roster to keep him active beyond temporary promotions. The report frames his promotion as setting him “to make his official debut,” language that indicates projection rather than a guaranteed snap-count role.
What Mitch Wishnowsky brings to New England
The Patriots also elevated veteran punter Mitch Wishnowsky from the practice squad. Pats Pulpit notes Wishnowsky, 34, joined New England’s practice-squad group after being released by Buffalo at roster cutdown. The report ties his college pedigree — including unanimous All-American honors and the Ray Guy Award — to his specialist résumé in the NFL.
Career details included in the report list Wishnowsky with 105 career games, a long punt of 74 yards, a 45.5-yard gross punt average and a 40.9-yard net average. The right-footed veteran also functions as a holder and kickoff specialist, which gives the Patriots flexibility in game-day specialist duties while Bryce Baringer remains on injured reserve. Wishnowsky was a fourth-round pick in 2019 and spent his early seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before stints elsewhere, per the Pats Pulpit summary.
Like Larison, Wishnowsky’s elevation is temporary under standard practice-squad promotion rules; the report states he also has two standard call-ups remaining before a 53-man move would be required for longer-term activation.
Special teams and roster impact (TreVeyon Henderson ruled out)
The immediate need for both elevations is tied to injuries and roster gaps. The Patriots’ final injury report referenced in the story lists TreVeyon Henderson as ruled out with an ankle issue, and punter Bryce Baringer is on injured reserve. That combination left New England thin at returner/punter roles and created the opening for Larison’s return-capable skill set and Wishnowsky’s punting/holding experience.
For more background on the rookie who was ruled out, see the internal piece on henderson new england patriots. The Pats Pulpit report frames these elevations as short-term, game-day solutions under current roster rules rather than long-term roster changes.
Operationally, the elevations help the Patriots avoid deploying non-specialists in critical kicking, holding or return roles. With Wishnowsky active, New England gains a proven punter for kickoff placement and field-position work; with Larison active, the team adds a ball-carrier who also returns kicks and can contribute on coverage units if needed. The uplifts also reduce immediate pressure on kicker Andy Borregales and long snapper Julian Ashby by restoring a dedicated punting option and a veteran holder.
What to watch vs. the Seahawks
Coaches and fans should track a handful of clear, measurable indicators that will reveal how the Patriots plan to use these temporary elevations.
- Larison usage: special-teams snaps on kickoff return units and any third-down or rotational snaps behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner. A target in the passing game or designed two-minute package snaps would be the most concrete sign of offensive trust.
- Wishnowsky role: does he assume kickoff responsibilities, serve as the primary punter, and handle holding duties? Net punt distance and placement inside the 20 will be useful barometers given the career 45.5-yard gross and 40.9-yard net averages cited in the report.
- Special-teams snaps: watch early third- and fourth-quarter special-teams rotations to see whether Larison is used primarily as a returner or more broadly on coverage/return units.
- Roster timeline: under the standard elevation rules referenced by Pats Pulpit, both players retain two standard call-ups before a 53-man signing is required; teams typically evaluate performance across those games before deciding on longer-term roster moves.
Short-term outlook and uncertainty
The Pats Pulpit account presents these moves as immediate, tactical responses to roster needs. While both players bring experience and role-fit to clear gaps, the report and NFL elevation rules make clear that temporary promotions do not guarantee long-term roster permanence. Any sustained role for either player would require further roster decisions by the Patriots after the available standard elevations are used.
Expect New England to evaluate Larison primarily on special-teams reliability and situational offensive snaps; Wishnowsky’s performance will be judged on placement, net average and clean execution as a holder. The team’s decisions over the next several games will indicate whether either elevation becomes a longer-term addition.
Source attribution: This article is grounded in the Pats Pulpit report published Aug. 22, 2026. See the original Pats Pulpit story for verification: Pats Pulpit — Patriots elevate running back Lan Larison, punter Mitch Wishnowsky for Week 1 against Seahawks.
Key takeaway: the Patriots used standard practice-squad elevations to add depth at running back and punting/holding for Week 1; both players are temporary solutions with two standard call-ups remaining, and usage in special teams and situational snaps will determine whether either earns a longer stay.
