The New England Patriots are rolling into Duval County for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a couple of familiar faces getting the call-up. Safety Mike Brown and defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. were both elevated from the practice squad right on the eve of kickoff, a move that screams “we need bodies” as their roster gets slammed by injuries. Both guys are set to revert back after this road trip, but this is a huge moment for them to prove they belong when the team needs them most.
Mike Brown’s Journey to the Main Roster
Mike Brown, at 26 years old, is a Miami of Ohio guy who’s been grinding in the league since he went undrafted in 2022. He’s already seen 35 NFL games in his career, which is pretty wild for a practice squad veteran. Before landing in Foxborough, Brown did stints on the practice squads for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Cleveland Browns. The dude even broke through to the 53-man roster for Mike Vrabel’s Tennessee Titans in 2023, where he actually started five games while they were in the AFC South. His career stats show 60 tackles and a pair of pass deflections across 503 snaps on defense and a whopping 760 snaps on special teams. He agreed to terms with the Patriots back in March when the 2026 league year opened, got released, and then retained on the practice squad at the end of August. Talk about a rollercoaster to get back to game day!
Pharms Jr.: From Arena Ball to the NFL Grind
Then there’s Jeremiah Pharms Jr., a 29-year-old, 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle who has literally seen it all. He went undrafted in 2020 and took some unconventional routes to the NFL, playing for the Champions Indoor Football League’s Wichita Force and the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers. He made his way to Gillette Stadium ahead of training camp in 2022 and has since appeared in 31 games, with a handful of starts under his belt. Pharms has piled up 45 tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery across 594 snaps on defense and 128 snaps on special teams for the Patriots. He was even on the practice squad for their 2025 run to Super Bowl LX before re-upping on a futures contract. This guy signed back to the practice squad after being waived at the league’s cutdown deadline, so he’s no stranger to fighting for his spot.
Injury Bug Hits Hard Before Kickoff
So, why the sudden call-ups? The Patriots are absolutely reeling from injuries heading into this Week 3 matchup. They just put guard Mike Onwenu, outside linebacker Quintayvious Hutchins, and safety Dell Pettus all on injured reserve. And if that wasn’t enough, veteran edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones has been ruled out. Plus, tight end Eli Raridon and safety Craig Woodson are making the trip with questionable game statuses. That’s a brutal list, especially in the secondary where Brown can step in. Both Brown and Pharms still have two standard elevations left after this one before the team would need to make 53-man roster moves to keep them around. With so many key guys out or banged up, these two veterans are gonna be crucial for the Patriots this Sunday. Can they step up and fill some massive holes on the defensive side of the ball? Kickoff against the Jaguars is set for 1 p.m. ET at EverBank Stadium. It’s gonna be a true test of their depth.
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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