Patriots practice in Foxborough on Wednesday was marked by multiple absences and an immediate roster move: safety Craig Woodson and edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones did not practice, and the team promoted edge depth Jose Ramirez from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
The session came as New England prepares for a Week 3 road game at Jacksonville. Alongside Woodson and Jones, rookie edge rusher Quintayvious Hutchins did not practice, while several veterans were limited in Wednesday’s work, creating short-term questions for the Patriots’ depth chart.
Patriots practice snapshot: who missed or was limited Wednesday
The most notable DNPs were Craig Woodson (shoulder) and Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder). Boston.com’s reporting also listed rookie Quintayvious Hutchins as a non-participant (knee).
Veterans who practiced in a limited capacity included fullback Reggie Gilliam (knee), right tackle Morgan Moses (foot), tackle Dametrious Crownover (knee) and tight end Eli Raridon (thigh). Cornerback Carlton Davis practiced after missing Sunday’s game, and special-teamer Brenden Schooler practiced but remains ineligible to play until Week 5 under return-to-play rules. Edge defender Harold Landry Jr. remains on the PUP list.
Compact participation table
Roster moves: Jose Ramirez promoted; Benton Whitley signs to practice squad
The Patriots elevated edge rusher Jose Ramirez from the practice squad to the 53-man roster Wednesday to bolster edge depth. Head coach Mike Vrabel praised Ramirez’s preparation, saying, “He has been a really good practice player for us.” The move provides an immediate roster option while the staff monitors the health of the edge group ahead of Week 3.
New England also signed Benton Whitley to the practice squad. Whitley, a Springfield native and Holy Cross product, has limited NFL game experience with previous stints on active rosters; Boston.com’s coverage notes his pro experience as part of the context for the signing. The practice-squad addition gives the Patriots another developmental option for special teams and depth purposes.
Boston.com’s report frames both transactions as short-term roster management — adding immediate depth with Ramirez and retaining developmental flexibility via the practice squad with Whitley. Patriots fans should expect any further roster tweaks to be tied to how injured players progress through the week.
Player notes and depth implications
Woodson’s absence could shift special-teams duties and open practice reps for backup safeties; any on-field snap changes remain uncertain until Friday’s official report. Jones’ DNP increases uncertainty around the edge rotation; while Ramirez provides depth, exact snap impacts are speculative.
The offensive line has been a focus after recent moves that placed Michael Onwenu and Dell Pettus on injured reserve. Coach comments singled out veteran Greg Van Roten as a likely internal option: “He’s a smart player, good size, and I think, crafty.” That endorsement suggests New England will rely on experienced depth while testing younger options in practice.
Limited participants — including Reggie Gilliam, Morgan Moses and Eli Raridon — will be monitored through the week; any move to full-go or a downgrade to DNP will shape the active gameday roster. Brenden Schooler remains a non-factor for game-day availability until Week 5 due to eligibility rules.
Coach comments, quotes and context
On Dre’Mont Jones’ short-term timeline, Vrabel warned that immediate returns were unlikely: “I do not think Dre’Mont will do much today, I know that he is working hard to try to get back, and we will see where he is later on in the week,” offering guarded optimism without a firm timeline.
On Ramirez’s role and readiness, Vrabel noted the edge defender’s preparation: “He has been a really good practice player for us,” underscoring why the team felt comfortable promoting him for depth work.
Week 3 outlook and remaining uncertainties
The Patriots travel to Jacksonville for Week 3 with several question marks. The most immediate items to watch are updates on Craig Woodson and Dre’Mont Jones — both listed DNP on Wednesday — and the health of limited offensive linemen through Friday’s practice and the official injury report.
Other uncertainties include when Harold Landry Jr. will come off the PUP list and how much playing time, if any, the newly promoted Jose Ramirez will receive if Jones remains limited. As always, snap projections are speculative; fans should wait for Friday’s official report and the gameday elevations before making firm conclusions.
Source attribution and next steps
This update is grounded in reporting by Conor Ryan for Boston.com. Read the original Boston.com story for full context: Boston.com — Patriots practice without several starters Wednesday. We will monitor practices later this week and the official Patriots injury report for finalized game statuses and any late roster moves ahead of Sunday’s trip to Jacksonville.
Key takeaways: multiple starters missed Wednesday practice, Jose Ramirez was promoted to the active roster for edge depth, and Benton Whitley was added to the practice squad as a local developmental piece. Final gameday availability will depend on Friday’s official report and continued observation during practice.
