The New England Patriots just made a significant move to cut down their roster, waiving defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. ahead of Sunday’s NFL roster deadline. This news dropped per a report from the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, and it means the team’s going down to 53 without the well-traveled defensive lineman.
Pharms Jr.’s Wild Ride to Gillette Stadium
Let’s talk about Jeremiah Pharms Jr. for a second. This dude’s journey to the NFL wasn’t exactly a straight line. The 29-year-old went undrafted way back in 2020, bounced around the Champions Indoor Football League with the Wichita Force, and even did a stint in the USFL for the Pittsburgh Maulers. Talk about grinding it out! He finally made it to the NFL ahead of training camp in 2022, landing with the Patriots. Over his time at Gillette Stadium, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive lineman played in 31 games, snagging a handful of starts along the way. Think about that commitment! He tallied up 594 snaps on defense and another 128 on special teams, racking up 45 tackles, two sacks, and even one fumble recovery. Not bad for a guy who started out as a linebacker in college at Sacramento City, San Joaquin Delta, and Friends University. He even finished their Super Bowl LX run on the practice squad after multiple tours on the active roster.
Roster Deadline Chaos Hits Foxborough
This waiver isn’t entirely a surprise given the brutal reality of NFL roster cuts. The Patriots started Sunday with a whopping 73 players on their active roster, and by 6 p.m. ET, every team in the league has to be down to 53. That’s a ton of tough decisions for the coaching staff and front office. Pharms Jr. was actually retained by the reigning AFC champions on a futures contract back in February, which shows they saw some real potential in him. But when it comes down to the wire, these cuts are always agonizing.
So, what’s next for Jeremiah Pharms Jr.? While he’s off the active roster for now, the report mentioned he’s a top candidate for their initial practice squad. It’s a tough break, but hopefully, he can land back with the team and keep fighting for a spot. For the Patriots, this move signals that the final roster is taking shape, and the competition to make that 53-man squad is absolutely cutthroat right now!
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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