The reigning AFC Champion Patriots aren’t messing around, making a couple of cold, hard business moves by cutting two vested veterans to clear space for new blood on Monday afternoon. Center Ben Brown and linebacker K.J. Britt, who had both initially made the team’s 53-man roster, got the axe to make room for tight end Cameron Latu and linebacker Darius Muasau, who landed with the organization as waiver claims from the Eagles and Giants, respectively.
Brown’s Journey Hits a Wall After Injury
This is a tough break for Ben Brown, the 28-year-old interior lineman. He’s been grinding in Foxborough since fall 2024, signed off the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad. The guy played in 27 regular season games over the past two years, starting 14 times at center and guard. He even snagged a contract extension last December, pulling in 998 snaps on offense and another 124 on special teams. But an injury in the preseason opener that kept him off the practice field ever since clearly pushed the Patriots to make a move. Brown, an undrafted Ole Miss alum from 2022, has been on a journey across the league, with stops with the Cincinnati Bengals, our very own Seattle Seahawks, and the Arizona Cardinals. It just shows you how cutthroat the NFL can be, especially when injuries hit.
Britt’s Solid Career Takes a Detour
K.J. Britt, the 27-year-old linebacker, also got caught in the crossfire. He signed a one-year deal with the reigning AFC champions back in March, bringing a ton of experience. Drafted 176th overall in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, Britt has played in 76 NFL games with 16 starts. We’re talking 994 defensive snaps and an impressive 1,289 snaps in the kicking game. He’s recorded 161 tackles, a split sack, four stops for loss, and three passes defensed. Britt, an Auburn product, previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins. It’s a reminder that even consistent special teams contributors and solid defensive players are not safe when teams are chasing roster upgrades.
Both Brown and Britt now bypass the claiming period and are unrestricted free agents. While reunions are always possible as New England sorts through their post-deadline movement, these are aggressive moves from a team that’s clearly focused on fine-tuning their roster for a run at it again. As sights set on September, the formation of the practice squad is already underway, setting the stage for what looks to be another high-stakes season for the Patriots.
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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