Elliott Davison is back with the New England Patriots practice squad, clocking in a wild 24-hour turnaround as a free agent. Seriously, after just a day off the roster, the safety is circling back to Gillette Stadium. The organization made it official on Tuesday, re-signing Davison and, to make space for him on the 17-man practice squad, they announced the release of veteran tight end Shane Zylstra. Talk about a swift shuffle as the team rolls into the second week of the regular season.
Davison’s Whirlwind Return
This isn’t Davison’s first rodeo with the Patriots this season, or even this month. The 24-year-old safety initially joined the practice squad right as September started, which means he’s already seen some action, been waived, and now he’s back for round two. What a journey for a guy who went undrafted out of UTSA in 2025. Last year, he spent his entire campaign with the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, even re-upping with a futures contract back in January. Davison put in some serious work during his second NFL preseason, racking up 141 snaps between defense and special teams. He even snagged one start, a huge deal for an undrafted player. But, you know how it goes, he got waived when the league hit that tough 53-man roster deadline in August. Now, he’s back in Foxborough, showing just how quickly things can change on an NFL roster.
Zylstra’s Exit and a Packed Squad
To make room for Davison, Shane Zylstra, the 29-year-old tight end, got the news. Zylstra had just brought the Patriots practice squad to its full capacity earlier in the month, so it’s a quick exit for him too. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound veteran brings a lot of experience, having played in 35 games, including six starts, over his career. He’s got 18 catches for 136 yards and four touchdowns to his name, spread across 582 snaps on offense and 393 snaps on special teams. He was released with an injury waiver. Zylstra also entered the league as an undrafted free agent, coming out of Minnesota State in 2020. His journey saw him spend his rookie training camp with the Minnesota Vikings before a five-year stint with the Detroit Lions, bouncing between their practice squad, active roster, and injured reserve. He even had a stop with the Buffalo Bills during the 2026 offseason.
It really highlights the grind for these guys, doesn’t it? The practice squad in Foxborough is still packed with talent, too. We’re talking running back Lan Larison, wideouts Kyle Dixon, Cameron Dorner, and Chandler Brayboy. Then there’s offensive linemen Lorenz Metz, Jake Kubas, and Jacob Rizy. Defensive tackles Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Eric Gregory, edge rushers Jose Ramirez and Xavier Holmes, linebackers K.J. Britt and Riley Wilson, defensive backs Kindle Vildor and Mike Brown, plus punter Mitch Wishnowsky are all on there. In other off-day moves, the Patriots also brought in offensive tackle Da’Metrius Weatherspoon and linebacker T.J. Maguranyanga for workouts, according to the transaction wire. The team is getting ready for their home opener next Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, kicking off at 1 p.m. ET. You know these roster moves are all about getting the right mix for that first home game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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