New England Patriots Initial 53 Man Roster Revealed, A Few Surprising Moves Including The Releasing Of A Highly Touted Wideout

Pencils down. The 53-man roster for the New England Patriots is set with the team submitting their roster to the NFL ahead of today’s 4 pm est. deadline.

A few highlights from the roster cutting was long-time backup Brian Hoyer being released and then the cutting of preseason darling Gunner Olszewski. For how roster cutting day played out check out my piece here.

Here is how the roster for the Patriots currently looks after trimming down to 53 players:

Offense:

QB: Tom Brady, Jarrett Stidham RB: James White, Sony Michel, Brandon Bolden, Rex Burkhead, Damien HarrisFB: James Develin TE: Ryan Izzo, Matt LaCosseWR: Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Josh Gordon, Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski, Phillip Dorsett, Matthew Slater C: Russell Bodine T: Marcus Cannons, Isaiah Wynn, Korey Cunningham, Jermaine EluemenorG: Shaq Mason, Joe Thuney, Ted Karras

Defense:

DE: Michael Bennett, Deatrich Wise Jr., Chase Winovich, John Simon, Shilique CalhounDT: Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, Danny Shelton, Byron CowartLB: Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Elandon RobertsCB: Stephon Gilmore, Jason McCourty, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Joejuan WilliamsSS: Patrick Chung, Nate Ebner, Obi MelifonwuFS: Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Terrance Brooks

Special Teams:

K: Stephen GostkowskiP: Jake BaileyOther: Joe Cardona

In the coming days the Patriots will have the chance to claim players off waivers before they build their 10-man practice squad.

The biggest surprises on the roster was the fact that Demaryius Thomas did not make the team being released by New England in order to get down to 53. Word on the street is that he could be brought back into the fold in the coming days.
The post Patriots Initial 53 Man Roster Revealed, A Few Surprising Moves appeared first on Trifecta Sports.

The New England Patriots finalized their initial 53-man roster Saturday afternoon.
To reach that number, the Patriots released the following 27 players:
TE Stephen Anderson
TE/FB Andrew Beck
WR Braxton Berrios
RB Nick Brossette
OL Cole Croston
WR Ryan Davis
OL James Ferentz
LB Terez Hall
DE Trent Harris
S A.J. Howard
QB Brian Hoyer
OL Martez Ivey
OL Tyler Gauthier
FB Jakob Johnson
DL Ufomba Kamalu
OT Cedrick Lang
LB Calvin Munson
DT David Parry
WR Damoun Patterson
LB Christian Sam
TE Eric Saubert
OT Dan Skipper
OL Tyree St. Louis
WR Demaryius Thomas
DT Nick Thurman
CB Ken Webster
LB Scooby Wright

The Patriots also traded cornerbacks Duke Dawson (to the Denver Broncos) and Keion Crossen (to the Houston Texans) and placed center David Andrews, edge rusher Derek Rivers, offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt and safety Malik Gant on injured reserve.
Wide receiver Cameron Meredith and offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste will begin the season on the physically unable to perform list and will be eligible to return in Week 7.
Among the perceived roster bubble players who made the cut were wide receiver Gunner Olszewski, linebacker Elandon Roberts, defensive end Deatrich Wise, outside linebacker Shilique Calhoun and safety Obi Melifonwu.
With Olszewski and fellow undrafted wideout Jakobi Meyers both cracking the roster, this is the 16th consecutive year that at least one Patriots UDFA made the team out of camp.
It’s unlikely the Patriots will enter Week 1 with this exact roster. Last year, they added four players through signings or waiver claims between cutdown day and their regular-season opener.
There’s a strong chance of New England re-signing Thomas after using his roster spot to place a player on injured reserve in the coming days, according to multiple reports.
The Patriots open the 2019 regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday night at Gilette Stadium.

The New England Patriots have made 33 moves to get their roster down to 53 players, but don’t expect this list to stay permanent before their Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

PATRIOTS INITIAL 53-MAN ROSTER
QB Tom Brady
QB Jarrett Stidham
RB Brandon Bolden
RB Rex Burkhead
RB Damien Harris
RB Sony Michel
RB James White
FB James Develin
WR Phillip Dorsett
WR Julian Edelman
WR Josh Gordon
WR N’Keal Harry
WR Jakobi Meyers
WR Gunner Olszewski
WR Matthew Slater
TE Ryan Izzo
TE Matt LaCosse
C Russell Bodine
RT Marcus Cannon
OT Korey Cunningham
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
C Ted Karras
RG Shaq Mason
LG Joe Thuney
LT Isaiah Wynn
DL Michael Bennett
DL Adam Butler
DL Byron Cowart
DL Lawrence Guy
NT Danny Shelton
DL Deatrich Wise
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
OLB Shilique Calhoun
LB Jamie Collins
LB Dont’a Hightower
LB Elandon Roberts
OLB John Simon
LB Kyle Van Noy
OLB Chase Winovich
CB Stephon Gilmore
CB JC Jackson
CB Jonathan Jones
CB Jason McCourty
CB Joejuan Williams
S Terrence Brooks
S Patrick Chung
S Nate Ebner
S Duron Harmon
S Devin McCourty
S Obi Melifonnwu
K Stephen Gostkowski
P Jake Bailey
LS Joe Cardona
NON-FOOTBALL INJURY/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM
OT Yodny Cajuste (NFI)
WR Cameron Meredith (PUP)
SUSPENDED (2)
TE Ben Watson (four games)
TE Lance Kendricks (one game)
RELEASED BUT LIKELY TO RETURN
WR Demaryius Thomas
SEASON-ENDING INJURED RESERVE
C David Andrews
OL Hjalte Froholdt
S Malik Gant
OLB Derek Rivers
Some notes:
— Expect a player to go on injured reserve after he’s made the initial roster. That would open a spot back up for Thomas.
— Cajuste and Meredith can return after Week 6 if they’re healthy.
— Andrews’ season is over after a blood clot was found in his lungs. The Patriots could release Gant or Rivers with an injury settlement if he’s expected to get healthy before the season is over.

The Boston Red Sox look to end August on a high note.
Boston takes on the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night after Friday’s 7-6 victory that took 15 innings at Angel Stadium.
The Red Sox will tote out the same lineup from Friday’s game, while the Angels made a few switches, most notably having Shohei Ohtani begin the game on the bench.

Josh Taylor will be used as the opener in Saturday’s game in what will be a bullpen contest from the Red Sox. Seven relievers were used in Friday’s 15-inning win, so it will be interesting to see just how deep Taylor will go into the game. The Angels will counter with lefty Dillon Peters.
Here are the lineups for both teams:
BOSTON RED SOX (73-62)
Mookie Betts, CF
Rafael Devers, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
J.D. Martinez, RF
Sam Travis, DH
Andrew Benintendi, LF
Christian Vazquez, 1B
Brock Holt, 2B
Sandy Leon, C
Josh Taylor, LHP (1-1, 3.15 ERA)
LOS ANGELES ANGELS (64-72)
David Fletcher, 3B
Mike Trout, CF
Brian Goodwin, LF
Albert Pujols, 1B
Justin Upton, DH
Kole Calhoun, RF
Andrelton Simmons, SS
Luis Rengifo, 2B
Kevan Smith, C
Dillon Peters, LHP (3-2, 4.11 ERA)
Want a chance at $100 to the team store on Jersey Street? Go here or see below to fill out the entry form and read the official rules.

The New England Patriots will be without their starting center for the entirety of the 2019 NFL season.
David Andrews confirmed Saturday in an Instagram post that he will not play this season as he recovers from blood clots in his lungs that left him hospitalized earlier this week.
“Unfortunate start to 2019 for me,” Andrews wrote. “Thankful for all the thoughts and prayers from everyone. Best believe I’m doing everything I can do to get back out there in 2020. Go Pats and Go Dawgs”

View this post on Instagram

Unfortunate start to 2019 for me. Thankful for all the thoughts and prayers from everyone. Best believe I’m doing everything I can do to get back out there. Go Pats and Go Dawgs
A post shared by David Andrews (@bear_6060) on Aug 31, 2019 at 2:56pm PDT

ESPN’s Field Yates reported earlier Saturday the Patriots had placed Andrews on injured reserve. Players placed on IR before their team’s initial 53-man roster is finalized are ineligible to return during the season. Those who land on IR after cutdown day must sit out eight games.

In anticipation of Andrews’ season-long absence, the Patriots traded for Buffalo Bills center Russell Bodine on Friday. Either Bodine — who has started 74 games since entering the league in 2014 — or veteran backup Ted Karras will start at center for New England in next Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Patriots also placed edge rusher Derek Rivers on IR on Saturday, according to a report from ESPN’s Mike Reiss. This will be the second lost season in three years for Rivers, whom the Patriots drafted in the third round in 2017.

Jhoulys Chacin must have done enough in his bullpen session with the Red Sox on Friday.
Boston on Saturday announced it signed the former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher to a minor-league deal. Chacin will report to Triple-A Pawtucket.

The #RedSox today signed free agent RHP Jhoulys Chacin to a minor league (AAA) contract.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 31, 2019

Chacin was released from Milwaukee last week after going 3-10 with a 5.79 ERA.

The Red Sox can expand their roster beginning Sunday and can recall Chacin if need be. He also will be eligible for the postseason.
The 31-year-old certainly will provide some depth at the starting pitcher position with Chris Sale out and the team reliant on Rick Porcello, Nathan Eovaldi, Brian Johnson, Eduardo Rodriguez and David Price. Chacin also could provide bullpen help, as he made 12 relief appearances for the Los Angeles Angels in 2016.

The Texans were absolutely torched when the return for Jadeveon Clowney did nothing to help their offensive line. But Houston wasn’t done just yet.

After they traded Clowney away to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, the Texans then went out and shocked the NFL world when they made a deal with the Dolphins to acquire Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills from Miami, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Saturday, citing sources.

Blockbuster: The #Dolphins are trading franchise LT Laremy Tunsil and WR Kenny Stills to the #Texans in exchange for a huge package of picks, including a first-rounder, sources tell me, @MikeGarafolo, and @TomPelissero. The moves are contingent on players passing physicals.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2019

The #Dolphins are getting a massive haul of picks back from the #Texans: two first-round picks and a second-rounder, sources tell me, @RapSheet and @TomPelissero
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 31, 2019

There are #Texans players going to the #Dolphins as well, source said. I’m told they are ST Johnson Bademosi and OL Julien Davenport. Complicated trade.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2019

Have the Dolphins mailed it in already on the 2019 season? It sure looks that way.
Tunsil certainly will provide a boost to Houston’s O-line, while Stills is a solid wide receiver for quarterback DeShaun Watson. We guess the Texans got the last laugh, after all.

Demaryius Thomas was one of the stars of New England’s preseason finale, but he won’t be on the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster.
The Patriots released the veteran wide receiver ahead of Saturday’s roster cutdown deadline, according to reports from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Field Yates.

Source: The #Patriots are releasing WR Demaryius Thomas, who flashed in the fourth preseason game. He’s still working his way back to health.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2019

After tearing his Achilles last December and spending all of training camp on the physically unable to perform list, Thomas impressed in his Patriots preseason debut last Thursday, catching seven passes on eight targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the New York Giants.

Thomas might not be gone for long, however.
Since the 31-year-old is a vested veteran, he does not need to clear waivers before signing with another team. That also means the Patriots potentially could re-sign the former Denver Broncos star after finalizing their initial roster.
That seems to be the team’s intention, according to a report from NFL Media’s Mike Giardi.

Don't rule out a quick return to the #Patriots for the recently cut Demaryius Thomas. Sources indicating that's desire of both sides.
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) August 31, 2019

One reason for doing this would be to free up a roster spot in order to place another player on injured reserve with the intention of activating him during the season. If a player is placed on IR before final cuts, he is ineligible to return during the season. Players placed on IR after cutdown day can be activated after eight games.

Week 1 of the college football season will begin to wrap up Saturday night with what should be one of the most exciting games of the week.
No. 16 Auburn will play host to No. 11 Oregon.
Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert, who elected to return to school for his senior year, projects to be one of the top quarterbacks taken in the 2020 NFL Draft. This will be his first chance of the season to put his skills on display for a national audience.
Here’s how to watch Saturday’s Auburn-Oregon game.
When: Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
Live stream: ABC Go | WatchESPN

In a stunning turn of events, Gunner Olszewski’s storybook summer has earned him a New England Patriots roster spot after all.
After informing the wide receiver/return man he had been released ahead of Saturday’s cutdown deadline, the Patriots reversed course and opted to keep Olszewski on their roster, a source confirmed to NESN.com’s Doug Kyed.
Olszewski’s inclusion coincided with the Patriots’ decision to trade cornerback Keion Crossen to the Houston Texans. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report both moves.

Olszewski, a former cornerback and returner at Division II Bemidji State who joined the Patriots via rookie tryout this spring, earned praise from coaches and teammates for his competitiveness and tenacity during the preseason. Though his skills as a receiver still are developing, he excelled on punt returns, averaging 13.1 yards per runback.
Julian Edelman typically handles punt return duties for the Patriots, but Olszewski could take over those responsibilities to lighten the 33-year-old’s workload. Edelman appeared to tweak his previously broken thumb during Thursday’s preseason finale, and though the injury isn’t considered serious, New England could take a cautious approach with its star wideout early in the season.
Olszewski has drawn comparisons to Edelman for his playing style and versatility. During Thursday’s game, he played 23 snaps on offense, 16 on special teams and 29 at cornerback after injuries left the Patriots thin in the secondary.
New England received a sixth-round draft pick in return for Crossen. The 2018 seventh-rounder was a valuable special teamer for New England as a rookie, establishing himself as one of the team’s top punt gunners.
Crossen shook off an underwhelming start Thursday night to turn in an impressive performance against the New York Giants, finishing with one interception, four pass breakups and a team-high 12 tackles.
The Patriots also traded cornerback Duke Dawson and a sixth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for a fourth-rounder on Friday. They’ll enter the season with a corner group of Stephon Gilmore, Jason McCourty, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones and rookie Joejuan Williams.