The New England Patriots just made some urgent moves to shore up their roster, bringing running back Lan Larison onto the 53-man squad and elevating wide receiver Ryan Miller from the practice squad. This happened because star running back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver A.J. Brown were both officially downgraded to out, leaving their depth chart looking thin heading into the Sunday matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Larison’s Shot After His Seahawks Debut
Remember Lan Larison? The 24-year-old running back made his NFL debut right here at Lumen Field against our Seattle Seahawks on September 9, 2026. Yeah, that Super Bowl LX rematch! He caught two passes for nine yards and averaged a solid 24.5 yards per kickoff return, seeing three snaps on offense and six on special teams in that game. After that, he actually reverted to the practice squad, but an illness thinning out the Patriots’ running back room, behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner, means Larison is back. This 5-foot-11, 209-pound change-of-pace back, who was an undrafted free agent in 2025, spent his rookie year on injured reserve with a foot injury. He cleared waivers in August and was on the scout team, but now he’s got his spot on the active roster. It shows you never know when your number is going to get called, especially when you’ve already proven you can get on the field against a legit defense like ours.
Miller Returns to His Old Stomping Grounds
Meanwhile, the Patriots are also boosting their wide receiver corps by elevating 26-year-old Ryan Miller. He signed to their practice squad just midway through October. With veteran targets Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins both on injured reserve, Miller steps in as the fourth healthy receiver, lining up behind DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams. This 6-foot-2, 217-pound receiver is actually heading back to his former stomping grounds, Miami, where he was recently with the Dolphins. In fact, he still ranks fifth on the Dolphins in receiving yards this season, even reeling in a season-long, 77-yard touchdown from quarterback Malik Willis before making his way to Gillette Stadium. Miller’s been around the block, entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2023. He spent three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then got claimed off waivers by the New York Giants, and then by Miami during training camp. With 30 NFL games under his belt, including six starts, and a career total of 17 receptions for 254 yards and four touchdowns, he’s got some real experience to bring to the table for the Pats.
These moves are all about getting ready for Sunday’s 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff in Miami Gardens. The Patriots are trying to patchwork their lineup, with linebacker Christian Elliss and cornerback Carlton Davis III still questionable, and offensive tackle Marcus Bryant remaining on injured reserve. It’s going to be a real test for their depth and new additions.
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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