The New England Patriots are already shuffling the deck on their practice squad early this regular season, bringing in safety Elliott Davison and letting go of defensive tackle Jalen Hunt. This isn’t just some minor tweak; it shows how quickly things can change for guys grinding on the fringes of an NFL roster, even within the first few weeks of the season.
Davison’s Journey Lands Him in Foxborough
Elliott Davison, a 24-year-old safety, is getting a fresh start with the Patriots. This dude came into the league as an undrafted rookie out of UTSA just last year in 2025. He’s a 6-foot, 200-pound defensive back who spent his entire first regular season rocking with the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, even getting a futures contract to stick around in January. But here’s the kicker: Davison balled out in the August preseason this year, seeing 141 snaps across defense and special teams. He even snagged a start in the secondary! Despite all that work, he still cleared waivers when teams cut down to their 53-man rosters last weekend. Now, he’s found a new home on the Patriots’ 17-man practice squad. You gotta respect the grind, right?
Hunt’s Brief Stint Ends Quickly
On the flip side, Jalen Hunt’s time with the Patriots was incredibly short. The 25-year-old defensive tackle was one of the recent additions to the initial practice squad as September kicked off, but now he’s out. Hunt, a 6-foot-2, 310-pound undrafted defensive lineman, went through his rookie training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also went unclaimed at the cutdown, which is rough. Before the pros, Hunt played three seasons at Michigan State, then transferred to Cincinnati for his 2024 and 2025 campaigns. His college career was solid, appearing in 48 games with 48 tackles and 3.5 sacks. It’s a tough business, and sometimes a new face just fits what a team needs a little better for their immediate depth.
This move immediately impacts the Patriots’ practice squad, especially on the defensive side. They’ve got a pretty full house, including running backs Hassan Haskins and Lan Larison, wide receivers Kyle Dixon and Cameron Dorner, tight end Shane Zylstra, offensive linemen Jake Kubas and Jacob Rizy, defensive linemen Eric Gregory and Jeremiah Pharms Jr., linebackers Jose Ramirez, K.J. Britt and Riley Wilson, defensive backs Kindle Vildor and Mike Brown, plus punter Mitch Wishnowsky. Don’t forget German offensive tackle Lorenz Metz, who’s there through the NFL’s International Player Pathway. Bringing in Davison adds another body to that secondary depth, which could be huge as the regular season heats up and injuries inevitably pile up. What’s next? Davison will be looking to make an impression and maybe, just maybe, push for a spot on the active roster down the line.
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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