Mitch Wishnowsky, that veteran punter who kicked against our Hawks earlier this month at Lumen Field, is back on the New England Patriots’ practice squad after serving two standard elevations. The 34-year-old just wrapped up his second appearance in as many weeks for the Patriots, now he’s right back where he started, battling to stay on the field.
That Veteran Grinding For Every Snap
Wishnowsky’s been pulled up twice because incumbent punter Bryce Baringer is on injured reserve, a stark reminder of how quickly things can change in this league, right? In his latest outing, that 20-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, our man Wishnowsky, the right-footed specialist, was called on for four punts. And did he ever deliver! He was BOOMING it, averaging 46.3 yards per punt with a fantastic net of 41.0 yards per. We’re talking a 54-yard rocket and one perfectly placed punt dropped inside the opposing 20-yard line. But it wasn’t just about the punts; he was also handling crucial holding duties for kicker Andy Borregales, who went 2-of-3 on field goals and nailed both his extra points. This guy, a former Ray Guy Award winner, signed to the practice squad back at its formation in Foxborough. He’s seen 16 snaps on special teams this season, playing mistake-free football with zero touchbacks. You can tell he’s hungry for that full-time spot!
From Lumen Field Battles To The Roster Bubble
Let’s not forget, Wishnowsky’s 2026 debut? That was right here at our house, Lumen Field, facing off against our own All-Pro Seattle Seahawks returner Rashid Shaheed on September 9th! He posted a solid 44.3 yards per punt in that game, proving he can handle the pressure against the league’s best. We’re not talking about some wide-eyed rookie here, folks. Wishnowsky is 34 years old, a seasoned veteran who was a fourth-round pick back in the 2019 NFL draft, 110th overall. He spent six years launching punts for the San Francisco 49ers before making stops with the Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills. Think about that: 107 games played, 352 punts for an incredible 16,182 yards, and a career-long of 74 yards! He’s even got 236 kickoffs on his resume. To see a player with that kind of history, that kind of consistent experience, constantly bouncing between the active roster and the practice squad? It just shows you the absolute grind and relentless competition in the NFL. Every snap, every kick, matters.
The clock is ticking for Wishnowsky, though. He’s got only one more standard elevation left this campaign. After that, the Patriots would HAVE to bring him onto the active 53-man roster if they want him on the field. Will he get that final shot to prove he belongs full-time? Or will this practice squad carousel continue? The Patriots, sitting at an even 1-1, are set to hit the road next Sunday, heading to Jacksonville to battle the 2025 AFC champions at EverBank Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET. Keep an eye on that special teams depth chart. You gotta wonder if this veteran’s journey includes that trip south.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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