Patriots trim roster to 53 players, keep two undrafted rookies

It took until about three hours after the 4 pm deadline, but the Patriots finally announced all 27 moves needed to get their team to the required 53-man limit.

New England cut 25 players, including Devin Asiasi, J.J. Taylor, and Lil'Jordan Humphrey and put two players -- Henry Anderson and Kristian Wilkerson -- on season-ending injured reserve. (They can still potentially be released with injury settlements.)

In better news, a few young players, like Shaun Wade and Chasen Hines, found their way onto the initial 53-man roster, and the team's streak of 18 years with an undrafted free agent on the team is set to extend another year with special teamers Brenden Schooler and DeMarcus Mitchell making the cut.

Here's a snapshot of the day's events:

Joshuah Bledsoe, Sam Roberts reportedly make team (4:51 p.m.)

We're still waiting for word on the final few Patriots cuts, but here's some news on a couple bubble players who MADE the team.

Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports that safety Joshuah Bledsoe, a 2021 sixth-round pick who missed last season due to injury, is in. Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal reports that 2022 sixth-round pick Sam Roberts, a defensive lineman, has also made the initial 53-man roster.

Undrafted rookie OL Kody Russey waived, per reports (4:19 p.m.)

One notable undrafted rookie is off the board for the 53-man roster as interior offensive lineman Kody Russey reportedly did not survive roster cuts.

Russey impressed as a backup center and played a few snaps at guard during preseason as well. But the Patriots appear to be leaning toward keeping James Ferentz on the roster as an interior swing player in the old Ted Karras mold.

Still, Russey should very likely return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

Report: Receivers Tre Nixon, Lil'Jordan Humphrey waived by Patriots (3:57 p.m.)

For a second straight season, 2021 seventh-round pick Tre Nixon couldn't crack the 53-man roster. PFF's Doug Kyed reported the Patriots will waive the receiver before the 4 pm cut deadline.

Nixon made several standout plays during unpadded minicamp practices but couldn't carry over the momentum to training camp despite a few splash plays here and there. He especially struggled with drops in preseason games, including dropping the first ball thrown his way in a key third-down situation in Week 1.

Still, he showed enough improvement to be a priority practice squad addition should he clear waivers.

So too should Lil'Jordan Humphrey, whom the Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan reported will also be waived by the Patriots.

Humphrey appeared to gain the upper hand on both Nixon and Kristian Wilkerson late in the summer with steady training camp practices and excellent preseason performances both as a receiver and special teams player. Depending on Wilkerson's injury status, he could be a candidate for practice squad elevation down the line.

OL Bill Murray reportedly waived by Patriots

Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reported the Patriots will waive G/DT Bill Murray.

The third-year pro switched from defensive tackle to offensive line before camp this season and had some positive plays during preseason at guard.

He showed enough promise to be worth a practice squad spot for a third season in a row and continue developing as offensive line depth.

Report: Patriots waive 2021 fifth-rounder Cameron McGrone (3:25 p.m.)

Here's a splash move: the Patriots will reportedly waive second-year linebacker Cameron McGrone, according to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal.

Taken in the fifth round last year by New England, McGrone missed all of the 2021 season while recovering from an ACL injury suffered during his final college season at Michigan.

Though he returned to practice during training camp, he failed to make a consistent impact due to his inexperience, though his athleticism could be seen at points. He was clearly behind the veteran linebacking group of Ja'Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Jahlani Tavai, and Mack Wilson.

McGrone should be a candidate to return to the practice squad assuming he clears waivers. The move also might signal the Patriots' willingness to lean more on their safeties than their off-ball linebackers in 2022.

As of this point, the Patriots have 13 roster moves to make to get to 53 players.

Patriots cut LB Nate Wieland, DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr., per reports (2:53 p.m.)

Pro Football Focus' Doug Kyed reports the Patriots will waive backup linebacker Nate Wieland. The undrafted rookie free agent signed with the team August 2 and primarily played special teams.

Defensive lineman Jeremiah Pharms Jr. will also reportedly hit waivers, according to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal. Pharms showed some flashes in preseason with two "stops" and a pressure, via Pro Football Focus, and could be a practice squad candidate.

Patriots releasing backup OL Will Sherman, WR Josh Hammond (2:40 p.m.)

The Patriots seem to be valuing experience over youthful versatility on the offensive line, reportedly releasing 2021 sixth-round pick Will Sherman (via Boston Herald's Karen Guregian) just after letting fellow offensive lineman Arlington Hambright hit waivers. Team also cut wide receiver Josh Hammond, according to PFF's Doug Kyed.

Sherman started off camp buried on the depth chart but showed well the last few weeks at multiple offensive line positions during preseason games and made a late push to make the team.

Should he clear waivers, he could likely find himself back on the Patriots' practice squad.

Hammond signed with the Patriots early in training camp as a depth piece but struggled with drops and inconsistency in practice and games and never surpassed the likes of Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Kristian Wilkerson, or Tre Nixon.

Report: Patriots waive DL Henry Anderson, CB/ST Justin Bethel, RB J.J. Taylor (2:15 p.m.)

Finally, a few mild surprises coming out of Foxborough.

New England will reportedly part with Henry Anderson, a free agent signing from last season, core special-teamer Justin Bethel, and backup running back J.J. Taylor, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

Anderson was originally viewed as a strong depth option on the defensive interior and potentially at defensive end, but he's been overtaken in recent weeks by Carl Davis Jr. and Deatrich Wise Jr. for playing time. The team will save about $1 million by cutting him.

Bethel, meanwhile, has been a special-teams mainstay for the Patriots the last few seasons. But the emergence of undrafted rookie Brenden Schooler might have forced him out of the lineup. Cody Davis might also be a name to watch this afternoon.

Because Anderson and Bethel are both veterans with enough accrued playing time, they are not subject to waivers and could re-sign after the Patriots move some players to injured reserve.

The earlier waiving of Kevin Harris seemed like it might have opened up a spot for Taylor, who impressed with his hustle during Friday's preseason loss to the Raiders. But the undrafted running back was still behind four running backs on the depth chart.

One silver lining: Taylor being waived might spell better news than expected for Ty Montgomery, who suffered an ankle injury last Friday and left the preseason finale in pain.

Patriots reportedly waive OL Arlington Hambright (1:54 p.m.)

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots will waive backup offensive lineman Arlington Hambright.

The former seventh-round pick came to the Patriots on a reserve/futures deal after spending last season on the Chicago Bears' practice squad and saw significant action at guard and tackle during the preseason, including some first-team reps at right guard.

Should Hambright clear waivers, the 2020 draft selection could be a candidate for the team's practice squad.

Report: Patriots cut OL Drew Desjarlais (1:52 p.m.)

Per Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal, New England will reportedly release backup offensive lineman Drew Desjarlais. The former CFL lineman signed a reserve/futures contract with the team in January but never prominently figured into the team's final roster plans.

Rookie RB Kevin Harris reportedly waived by Patriots (1:36 p.m.)

The Patriots' 2022 rookie class has suffered its first roster casualty with sixth-round pick Kevin Harris reportedly being waived by the team, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

The bruising back had 13 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown during preseason and showed flashes of catching the ball well out of the backfield early in spring practice and training camp. But his production and playing time slowed as camp went on and fourth-round pick Pierre Strong Jr. got more into the mix.

Harris also lost a fumble last Friday against the Las Vegas Raiders, which the Patriots rarely tolerate from rookies.

He was a longshot to make the roster behind the likes of Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, Ty Montgomery, Strong and potentially J.J. Taylor. But Kevin Harris stands a strong chance of returning as a member of the practice squad.

Report: Patriots to cut CB Terrance Mitchell, LB Harvey Langi (1:18 p.m.)

In an interesting move, the Patriots reportedly informed cornerback Terrance Mitchell, who signed a one-year deal with the team in free agency, that they intend to release him this afternoon, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. Linebacker Harvey Langi (also via Reiss) will also reportedly be cut.

Mitchell was signed about the same time as Malcolm Butler as possible veteran stopgaps at cornerback as the team weighed its options at the position. Early in camp, it seemed like Butler or Mitchell would be a favorite to start alongside holdover Jalen Mills.

But the emergence of fourth-round pick Jack Jones as a viable player and Jonathan Jones moving to outside corner late in camp spelled doom for the veterans. Butler was released from injured reserve last week.

Mitchell's release also likely means slot cornerback Myles Bryant will make the 53-man roster after coming on strong in training camp.

Langi, meanwhile, got buried on the depth chart behind off-ball linebackers Ja'Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Mack Wilson, and Jahlani Tavai.

Report: Patriots waive 2020 third-round pick Devin Asiasi (12:04 p.m.)

The Patriots' 2020 draft class took yet another hit on Tuesday.

NFL Network's Mike Giardi reports the team has informed tight end Devin Asiasi, their third-round pick from that draft, of their intention to waive him.

The former No. 91 pick has caught just two passes for 39 yards in his NFL career through two seasons due to a combination of injury issues and general ineffectiveness in his limited opportunities.

Giardi suggests the news could accelerate trade talks for Asiasi after the tight end had shown recent flashes in practice and preseason. Otherwise, he will be waived at the 4 pm cutdown deadline and could be available to return to the practice squad if he goes unclaimed.

If the Patriots opt not to bring him back, he'll join fellow highly drafted tight end Dalton Keane as the latest failed attempt to revive the position through the draft in 2020.