Overview
- The Patriots signed Xavier Newman-Johnson to their practice squad on Thursday after hosting him for a visit earlier in the week.
- To open the 17-player practice-squad spot the team released rookie offensive lineman Jacob Rizy, a 2026 undrafted signee who spent the preseason with New England.
- Newman-Johnson is a 27-year-old undrafted 2022 Baylor product with 25 NFL games and experience at center and both guard spots, giving New England multi-position emergency flexibility.
- The team’s interest in adding the veteran came as backup interior lineman Ben Brown works through a preseason knee issue and returned to limited practice, making short-term depth a priority ahead of Sunday’s home game.
- The signing reflects routine practice-squad roster management where teams swap developmental players for ready-made NFL experience to cover injury risk rather than signal a long-term commitment.