After the initial 53-man roster was set on Tuesday, now the Patriots will fill out their practice squad on Wednesday.
While 4 p.m. is the deadline, some rumors have already started to trickle in. It is worth noting like last year, the rules have changed and practice squads will be 16 players. Players can be elevated a few times for games, which is why teams will go heavy on the practice squad with positions that are light on the active roster.
Here's a running blog of the practice squad moves.
-- According to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald, quarterback Brian Hoyer and cornerback D'Angelo Ross have been signed. Hoyer is very interesting as everyone thought he would have returned to the active roster and not practice squad.
-- ESPN's Mike Reiss reports tight end Matt LaCosse will return to the practice squad. He's still dealing with an injury suffered in a joint session with the Eagles.
-- Pro Football Focus' Doug Kyed reports defensive lineman Bill Murray and cornerback Myles Bryant have agreed to sign to the practice squad.
-- Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal has offensive lineman Alex Redmond and wide receiver Tre Nixon being on it. Nixon was The Ernie Adams' pick.
-- Wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson has signed to the practice squad, according to multiple reports. Wilkerson had an up-and-down summer, but could be a player to watch to get added for a few games.
-- ESPN's Field Yates has the Patriots adding linebacker Jahlani Tavai to the practice squad. He was with the Lions.
-- Defensive lineman Tashawn Boyer is returning to the practice squad, per Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal. He had a good summer.
-- According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are adding fullback Ben Mason to the practice squad.
-- ESPN's Field Yates reports Nick Folk is on the practice squad. Perhaps the team was worried Quinn Nordin would get scooped up on waivers.
-- Yates also has the Patriots signing quarterback Garrett Gilbert. New England will now have Mac Jones, Brian Hoyer and Gilbert, along with Jarrett Stidham (PUP). Gilbert was on the Patriots' practice squad in 2014 when they won Super Bowl XLIX.
-- ESPN's Mike Reiss reports the Patriots bringing back offensive lineman James Ferentz, which really shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
-- Per the team, 12 players have officially signed to the practice squad: 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. This list does not include Garrett Gilbert, Jahlani Tavai and Ben Mason, which have been reported. This leaves the Patriots at 15 of 16 spots.
