Pats: Practice Squad

Ferm Sheller

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Now that we know the initial 53 man roster, I'm starting a thread so people can post info regarding Pats PS additions as they happen...
 

EL Jeffe

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Matt LaCosse and Myles Bryant are signing with the practice squad per Twitter.
Nice. I actually think deep depth is a much more valuable use for the practice squad than the dream of developing a raw (i.e. bad) player into a useful one. We always hope that the young binkie who got cut makes it to the PS, but those guys almost never amount to anything. Certainly some do, and you'll find a Stephen Neal every once in a blue moon, but a guy like LaCosse who can go out there if Jonnu or Henry go down and not completely crap the bed is going to help way more than hoping Willie Sherman turns into a bubble NFL OL down the road. Bryant's measurables will limit his upside, but while he's still a young player, he's another guy (like LaCosse) who has proven he can step on an NFL field and not derail their chances of winning a football game.
 

chilidawg

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Nice. I actually think deep depth is a much more valuable use for the practice squad than the dream of developing a raw (i.e. bad) player into a useful one. We always hope that the young binkie who got cut makes it to the PS, but those guys almost never amount to anything. Certainly some do, and you'll find a Stephen Neal every once in a blue moon, but a guy like LaCosse who can go out there if Jonnu or Henry go down and not completely crap the bed is going to help way more than hoping Willie Sherman turns into a bubble NFL OL down the road. Bryant's measurables will limit his upside, but while he's still a young player, he's another guy (like LaCosse) who has proven he can step on an NFL field and not derail their chances of winning a football game.
It would seem that with 16 guys on the PS you ought to be able to do both.
 

Norm loves Vera

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Was Hoyer on the practice squad before while with the Pats? I know BB is still cooking his roster, but this seems like he might be bringing in another #2

Karen Guregian@kguregian
·Both Brian Hoyer and D'Angelo Ross have been signed to the Patriots practice squad, per source. Hoyer's presence on the practice squad is interesting.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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All good news. I'm most excited about Murray and Wilkerson being back.

I'd love to have Tashawn Bower & Adrian Colbert signed to the PS as well.
 

E5 Yaz

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Re: Hoyer. The #Patriots did this last year with the kickers. Didn't carry a kicker on the initial 53. Used a game-day elevation on Nick Folk to bring him up from the practice squad for Week 1. Hoyer could be a game-day elevation to back up Jones in the opener.
 

BostonFanInCanesLand

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I thought that was a one year rule due to COVID. No?
Rules were carried over

  • Expansion of practice squads to 16 players, including up to six who have more than two accrued seasons.
  • The ability to protect up to four practice squad players per week from being signed by other teams.
  • Elevation of up to two practice squad players to the active roster, without removing any current players, before 4 p.m. ET the day before a game.
  • Elevation of an additional practice squad player within 90 minutes before kickoff in the event of a late COVID-19 positive test result.
  • Players placed on injured reserve can return after three weeks, rather than six as in normal seasons.
  • Removal of the limit for how many players can be activated from injured reserve.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31869693/nfl-carry-flexible-roster-rules-2021
 

EL Jeffe

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It would seem that with 16 guys on the PS you ought to be able to do both.
Absolutely. I'm just saying, people tend to focus more energy on hoping the shiny draft picks make it to the practice squad but in actuality, it's the Matt LaCosse's of the world who will ultimately add more value there.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Jets CB Bless Austin was released in a surprise move. He was playing with the 1st team quite a bit before making the 53. Could he be claimed by the Pats?
 

Saints Rest

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Rules were carried over

  • Players placed on injured reserve can return after three weeks, rather than six as in normal seasons.
  • Removal of the limit for how many players can be activated from injured reserve.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31869693/nfl-carry-flexible-roster-rules-2021
Those last two bullets really change the roster construction. In many ways, the roster is now closer to MLB rules, with 46 on the active roster and 23 on the inactive roster, neither of which includes IL stints. Being able to send someone with a minor injury to IL for 3 weeks means that the quality of those 23 inactives becomes even more critical.
 

joe dokes

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Absolutely. I'm just saying, people tend to focus more energy on hoping the shiny draft picks make it to the practice squad but in actuality, it's the Matt LaCosse's of the world who will ultimately add more value there.
Can a PS guy say "no thank you" to a team that claims him?
 

E5 Yaz

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Can a PS guy say "no thank you" to a team that claims him?
Players are claimed off waivers and have to go to the 53 ... ala Perry

I think once signed to a practice squad, another team has to sign a player to their 53 to acquire him ... which would, obviously, require the player's consent

Unless I'm totally wrong
 

Ale Xander

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Really happy we get to keep Bryant and Wilkerson. Bryant's ability to play both CB and S helps depth.
 

joe dokes

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I think once signed to a practice squad, another team has to sign a player to their 53 to acquire him ... which would, obviously, require the player's consent
I had assumed they had no choice, kind of like a trade. But maybe it's more like an opportunity they can accept or decline.
 

Over Guapo Grande

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Players are claimed off waivers and have to go to the 53 ... ala Perry

I think once signed to a practice squad, another team has to sign a player to their 53 to acquire him ... which would, obviously, require the player's consent

Unless I'm totally wrong
I am going off of memory here, so take it with an ocean of salt... but haven't the Pats in the past bumped up PS pay for people as an incentive to stick around?
 

Zososoxfan

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Over Guapo Grande

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Quick elevation likely... Roster manipulation/utilization with JJ? He'd have to clear waivers, but as I understand, wouldn't count against the PS limit if he does.
 

BostonFanInCanesLand

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View: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1433164270498455560?s=20


Ian Rapoport
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·
3m

The #Patriots are signing fullback Ben Mason, source said, as the former #Ravens fifth rounder lands on the NE practice squad with a quick elevation likely.
If he is elevated quickly, and stays up on the 53 man roster I wonder who goes? Bolden to IR? Jakob Johnson to PS using his international exemption (it looks like they’ve added a wrinkle this year allowing the international pathway players to be elevated to the 53)? The Ravens were developing Mason as a hybrid FB/TE - similar to Keane.
 

E5 Yaz

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Reiss: Initial practice squad signings: OLB Tashawn Bower, DB Myles Bryant, C James Ferentz, K Nick Folk, QB Brian Hoyer, TE Matt LaCosse, DT Bill Murray, WR Tre Nixon, G Alex Redmond, CB D'Angelo Ross, G/OT Will Sherman, WR Kristian Wilkerson. Of the group, it is notable that Folk is part of it, which essentially extends the kicker competition with undrafted Quinn Nordin.
 

tims4wins

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Reiss: Initial practice squad signings: OLB Tashawn Bower, DB Myles Bryant, C James Ferentz, K Nick Folk, QB Brian Hoyer, TE Matt LaCosse, DT Bill Murray, WR Tre Nixon, G Alex Redmond, CB D'Angelo Ross, G/OT Will Sherman, WR Kristian Wilkerson. Of the group, it is notable that Folk is part of it, which essentially extends the kicker competition with undrafted Quinn Nordin.
Good news IMO. Just in case.
 

Granite Sox

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Mason is a poor man’s James Devlin. If he demonstrates NFL talent, McDaniels will find something to do with him. He’s got pretty good feet for a big guy, great playing strength, and he’s a psycho. Per Zososoxfan, I think Baltimore fancied him in a similar role as Dalton Keene. With Keene gone for the year, Mason might develop into a useful backup for when Johnson gets his annual injury.
 

twibnotes

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MGOBlog christened him "Ol' Murderface" if you're curious for a playstyle analysis.
he has also been referred to as “bench mason” due to his weight room prowess

hard nosed dude…New England guy too (from ct)