Matt Haack has been signed by the New England Patriots after punter Bryce Baringer sustained a preseason injury, according to reporting by ESPN’s Mike Reiss and coverage summarized by Pro Football Rumors. Early reports indicate the move is a depth-driven roster response while the club evaluates Baringer’s recovery and roster needs.
Quick update — Patriots sign Matt Haack
Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss and a Pro Football Rumors summary of that reporting (the latter presented as a rumor/transaction summary), the Patriots added veteran punter Matt Haack following the team’s preseason game in which Bryce Baringer was hurt. Pro Football Rumors credited Reiss as the primary source while flagging the story as an early roster development pending an official team transaction notice.
Why the move happened: Baringer’s preseason injury and coach comments
Mark Daniels of MassLive reported that head coach Mike Vrabel described the situation as “serious enough” to prompt action at the punter spot. That phrasing, reported by Daniels, suggests the club viewed the injury as more than a short-term tweak; however, the exact medical diagnosis has not been disclosed publicly.
Mark Daniels of MassLive reports Vrabel called the situation “serious enough” to prompt a roster move; see our coverage and the coach’s earlier remarks in the Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6 9 post for context on how New England has handled special-teams availability this summer.
Note: treat the initial reporting as subject to official confirmation. ESPN’s report may be followed by a formal transaction from the Patriots, and medical specifics typically appear on an official injury report when the team chooses to disclose them.
What Matt Haack brings to the Patriots
Matt Haack entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017 out of Arizona State and has spent time with Miami, the Bills, Colts, Browns, Giants and Cardinals over the course of his career. Most recently, Haack appeared in games for Arizona in 2025 and — according to the Pro Football Rumors summary of PFF and game logs — posted a 43.4 net yards-per-punt mark and landed 40% of his punts inside the 20-yard line.
Pro Football Focus (as reported in public PFF summaries and noted in the Pro Football Rumors piece) placed Haack in the middle of the league’s punters in 2025, ranking him roughly 13th among qualifying specialists while reporting an average hang time near 4.24 seconds. That combination — respectable net yardage and a solid inside-20 rate but middling hang time — suggests Haack offers placement and situational experience even if he is not a top-tier directional hang-time punter.
For New England, the likely priorities are consistency, directional placement to help coverage units, and the ability to pin opponents deep in the field while limiting return risk at Gillette Stadium. Haack’s track record as a veteran who has handled similar responsibilities across multiple clubs is the core reason teams turn to him in short-notice situations.
Roster moves and immediate depth chart impact
Alongside the Haack addition, reports indicate the Patriots signed offensive lineman Jack Conley and waived cornerback Kenneth Harris and wide receiver Kobe Prentice in moves summarized by Pro Football Rumors. Those transactions appear intended to open roster spots and balance positional depth after the punting-room development.
With Haack now on the roster, New England has added a veteran option behind or alongside the primary punter (Baringer) while the team sorts the injury. Whether Haack will handle immediate game-day duties depends on the official medical update; if Baringer is ruled out for any period, Haack would likely take over directional punting and situational fourth-down responsibilities until the club either activates Baringer or makes a longer-term decision.
By the numbers — quick comparison (sourced)
What remains unclear and what to watch next
Key unknowns include the specific medical diagnosis for Bryce Baringer, the official Patriots transaction post confirming Haack’s status, and the team’s long-term plan for the spot. Early reporting should be treated as provisional until the Patriots issue a roster move or an injury report.
- Watch for an official roster transaction from the Patriots; that will confirm whether Haack is on the 53-man roster, the practice squad or a short-term emergency signing.
- Look for a Patriots injury report that clarifies Baringer’s availability by game designation (e.g., questionable, injured reserve) if the team chooses to disclose details.
- Monitor snap counts on special teams in the next preseason game or Week 1 for a clearer indication of who will handle primary punting duties.
Key takeaways
- The Patriots signed veteran punter Matt Haack, per reporting by ESPN’s Mike Reiss and summarized as a roster rumor/transaction by Pro Football Rumors.
- Bryce Baringer suffered a preseason injury described by Mike Vrabel (via Mark Daniels of MassLive) as “serious enough” to prompt the team to add immediate depth.
- Haack’s 2025 numbers (43.4 net yards, 40% inside the 20) and a middle-tier PFF grade suggest he is a capable short-term solution while New England awaits medical clarity and an official roster move.
Source attribution
This report is based on the following primary coverage and data sources: Pro Football Rumors (transaction summary and PFF-derived metrics), ESPN reporting by Mike Reiss on the Haack signing, Mark Daniels’ coverage at MassLive reporting coach Mike Vrabel’s characterization of the injury, and performance metrics reported by Pro Football Focus. Treat roster and medical details as subject to official confirmation from the New England Patriots.
