The New England Patriots activated offensive tackle Marcus Bryant from injured reserve and released cornerback Kindle Vildor on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The two moves, which followed Monday’s release of safety Elliott Davison, leave New England with one open spot on its 53-man roster.
The Patriots roster moves reshaped depth at two positions. Pats Pulpit reported that Bryant rejoined the active roster before his 21-day activation window closed, and that Vildor was let go a day after playing 13 snaps, all on special teams, in New England’s 24-19 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 8.
Davison, a second-year safety, was released on Monday. Pats Pulpit reported that the remaining vacancy is considered likely to go to a player still on injured reserve, with wide receiver Mack Hollins named as a candidate.
Key Takeaways
- Bryant was activated from injured reserve on Tuesday, Nov. 3, before his 21-day activation window expired.
- New England has used 2 of its 8 regular-season injured reserve return spots, on A.J. Brown in Week 6 and on Bryant.
- The Patriots now carry five offensive tackles on the 53-man roster, with Lorenz Metz on the practice squad.
- Vildor played 13 special-teams snaps against Miami and was the fifth cornerback on the game-day roster.
Why Bryant’s activation did not change the IR return count
Each NFL team may bring up to eight players back from injured reserve during the regular season. New England entered Tuesday having used two of those spots: one on A.J. Brown, who returned in Week 6, and one on Bryant.
Bryant had already been declared a return candidate when he was sent to injured reserve in late August, so his designation was counted at that point. Tuesday’s activation therefore did not change the eight-player return count, per Pats Pulpit. The Patriots remain at 2 of 8, with six regular-season returns still available to them.
Bryant beat the 21-day window, and New England now has five tackles
Bryant’s activation landed before his 21-day window closed, which is what kept him on the 53-man roster. The result is a five-deep offensive tackle group on the active roster, with a sixth tackle on the practice squad.
Patriots offensive tackle depth after Marcus Bryant’s activation
Pats Pulpit listed those jersey numbers and roster designations. The practice-squad tackle, Lorenz Metz, gives the organization a sixth body at the position and can be elevated on game days.
Where Bryant fits behind Campbell and Moses
Will Campbell and Morgan Moses are entrenched as the starters on the left and right sides. Caleb Lomu has shown intriguing talent in his appearances in relief of either starter.
The fourth spot is the one to watch. Pats Pulpit’s projection, drawn from training camp and preseason work, places Bryant as OT4 ahead of rookie Dametrious Crownover, and the same analysis notes Bryant had a case for OT3 after the summer.
Bryant’s return gives New England more options up front. Pats Pulpit noted that Lomu could serve as an emergency interior lineman, while assessing that the team would prefer to keep him at tackle as much as possible.
Vildor’s release lands after 13 special-teams snaps vs. Miami
Against the Dolphins on Sunday, Vildor’s 13 snaps came exclusively on special teams, but he was dressed as the fifth cornerback. Rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada were healthy scratches for that game.
Pats Pulpit described the release as a minor surprise in that context, noting that Vildor had out-snapped both rookies on the season. The veteran was released on Tuesday anyway, one day after the 24-19 win.
Cornerback depth with Carlton Davis III back
New England’s cornerback group on the 53-man roster now lists Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones, Charles Woods, Channing Canada and Karon Prunty, with Al’zillion Hamilton on the practice squad.
Davis missed three games with a neck injury before returning against Miami. Pats Pulpit tied Vildor’s release to that return, reasoning that with Davis back in the lineup, roster flexibility outweighed the need for a seventh cornerback; that link is analysis rather than a team statement.
Pats Pulpit also projected that Vildor could return to the practice squad, which would make him a game-day elevation candidate again. He has been elevated once this season, leaving two elevations available down the stretch.
Patriots roster moves leave one open spot
After Davison’s release and Vildor’s departure, New England holds a single vacancy on the 53-man roster. Pats Pulpit expects it to be used on a player coming off injured reserve, with Hollins the most prominent name in that group.
Hollins and fullback Reggie Gilliam are eligible to return to practice this week. Offensive lineman Greg Van Roten was listed among other players who could make a comeback at any point.
Roster shuffling of this kind is tracked in the Patriots trade rumors tracker, which follows New England’s roster-building options.
What’s next for the Patriots
The immediate step is the practice window. Hollins and Gilliam become eligible to return to practice this week, and the open roster spot gives the club room to activate one of them without a corresponding release.
Whichever player comes off injured reserve next would take that vacancy, moving New England’s return count from 2 of 8 to 3 of 8. The Patriots are next scheduled to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 9.
