The New England Patriots have officially maxed out their practice squad, hitting the 17-man limit with the signing of tight end Shane Zylstra on Wednesday. This move wraps up a series of transactions for Foxborough as the regular season gets into full swing, signaling how they’re shoring up their depth for what’s ahead.
Zylstra’s Journey and The Tight End Room Shake-Up
At 29, Shane Zylstra is a seasoned veteran, originally hitting the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent back in 2020. After getting waived post-rookie training camp, he spent five years bouncing between the practice squad, active roster, and injured reserve for Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions in the NFC North, even making an offseason stop with the Buffalo Bills. This guy’s seen a lot: 35 games played, six starts, catching 18 passes for 136 yards and four touchdowns. He’s put in 582 snaps on offense and another 393 on special teams, showing he can contribute in multiple ways. Now, he’s heading into a tight end room that already features captain Hunter Henry, promising rookies Eli Raridon and Tanner Arkin, and recent waiver claim Cameron Latu on the 53-man roster. The Patriots even had free agent Kenny Fletcher Jr. in for a workout, so it’s clear they are looking to build a strong, deep group here. This Zylstra signing isn’t just about filling a spot; it’s about bringing in a proven commodity who knows the ropes, ready to step up if needed.
Rookie Departures and the Remaining IR Picture
Amidst the practice squad activity, New England also made some tough calls, waiving wide receiver Jimmy Kibble and safety Eric Butler from injured reserve. Both will clear waivers and officially become free agents, which is never easy to see for young players with potential. Kibble, just 22, was part of the club’s 2026 undrafted class, signed in May. He had a solid collegiate career at Georgetown, snagging 149 receptions for 2,642 yards and 16 touchdowns over 39 games, even earning first-team All-Patriot League honors as a captain in 2025. Butler, 23, was also an undrafted rookie in 2026 out of San Diego State, getting minicamp invites from the Raiders and Saints before signing with the Patriots. He showed versatility in college with 119 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a recovery, an interception returned for a touchdown, and two blocked punts in 48 games. Their departure, though due to injury, clears more space and keeps the team looking forward. Seven players still remain on injured reserve, including running back Myles Montgomery, tight end Julian Hill, wide receiver Jeremiah Webb, defensive tackle Isaiah Iton, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, linebacker Khalil Jacobs, and punter Bryce Baringer. These early-season roster moves are all about building out the depth chart, and figuring out who’s ready to compete. With the practice squad full, the Patriots are locked and loaded for the early games, and fans should be eager to see how this depth plays out on the field.
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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