The Patriots punter competition shifted from a preseason storyline to a live roster question after an injury to Bryce Baringer and a strong Week 1 showing from veteran Mitch Wishnowski. Reporting from musketfire.com (published Sept. 14, 2026) lays out the sequence that produced the opening and frames the short- and long-term choices the Patriots now face.
What happened in the Patriots punter competition (timeline)
The timeline that created the open punter competition is straightforward and rooted in on-field events and subsequent roster moves:
- Week 2 of the preseason vs. the Eagles: Bryce Baringer was sidelined after two punts and did not finish the game. Rookie emergency option Behren Morton (who has prior college punting experience at Texas Tech) replaced him late in the preseason contest.
- For the final preseason week New England signed veteran Matt Haack to handle punts while Baringer’s status was unclear. Haack reportedly placed three of four punts inside the 20 in that outing before he was released.
- After Baringer was placed on IR, the Patriots added Mitch Wishnowski to the practice squad. Wishnowski handled punts in the regular-season opener, totaling four punts with a 44.3-yard average and three punts placed inside the 20, per the musketfire report.
Player status: who’s in the running for Patriots punter duties
Below are compact, fact-based profiles of each punter mentioned in the reporting. These are descriptive items rooted in the source; any roster projections are speculative and labeled as such.
- Bryce Baringer — Sixth-round pick (2023) from Michigan State who had been the primary New England punter. Currently on IR following the preseason injury; reported to be in the final year of his contract.
- Mitch Wishnowski — Veteran punter added to the practice squad and called on to punt in the opener. In that game he punted four times for a 44.3-yard average with three inside the 20, per the source. His opener expanded his audition beyond a short-term emergency role.
- Matt Haack — Signed for the final preseason week to provide depth; placed three of four punts inside the 20 in that appearance and was later released before Wishnowski’s arrival.
- Behren Morton — A rookie quarterback who served as an emergency punter in the preseason after filling in when Baringer exited the Week 2 game; has prior college experience punting at Texas Tech.
What this means for special teams and the roster
The punter shuffle is one component of a broader special-teams transformation in New England. The musketfire piece highlights that the Patriots lost more than 1,600 special-teams snaps after multiple departures this offseason, opening meaningful opportunities for new contributors and waiver additions.
Players claimed or expected to take larger special-teams roles include Cam Latu and Darius Muasau, with rookies such as Namdi Obiazor and Channing Canada also projected to see expanded snaps. That turnover raises the practical stakes of the punter decision: beyond pure distance metrics, the coaching staff must weigh field-position consistency and how a punter complements new coverage personnel.
In the immediate term the Patriots have three straightforward operational options: promote Wishnowski from the practice squad for gameday duties, sign another veteran to compete, or lean on internal emergency options like Morton if necessary. Any permanent move away from Baringer would be a longer-term roster choice and should be treated as speculative until formally announced by the team.
Longer-term outlook and contract considerations
Per the reporting, Baringer is in the final year of his contract, which can affect how the organization evaluates whether to invest in an extension or pursue a veteran replacement. The musketfire story explicitly labeled any extension figures as speculative, and this article does the same: contract-talk is projection, not confirmation.
From a roster-management perspective, the Patriots can evaluate performance over a larger sample once Wishnowski or another punter accumulates more game-time reps. The choice could depend on metrics beyond gross average — for example, net average, punts inside the 20, touchbacks, coverage outcomes and the interplay with a reworked special-teams unit — none of which are resolved after a single game.
What to watch next
- Official updates on Bryce Baringer’s IR designation and any injury timeline the Patriots release.
- Week-to-week punt volume, net average, and inside-20 rates for Mitch Wishnowski or any other punter given game snaps.
- Roster activity around the punter spot: practice-squad promotions, veteran signings or releases that would change the competition.
- Special-teams snap distribution for new contributors such as Cam Latu, Darius Muasau, Namdi Obiazor and Channing Canada, which will affect coverage outcomes.
Bottom line: the Patriots punter competition is an evolving roster story rooted in an in-game injury and subsequent signings and releases. Mitch Wishnowski’s opener broadened the options, but any long-term decision should be viewed as uncertain until the Patriots make formal roster or contract moves.
Source: musketfire.com — “Patriots might have an unforeseen special teams battle brewing after Week 1”, published Sept. 14, 2026.
