The New England Patriots wasted no time shaking up their practice squad, making a series of moves Monday afternoon as they gear up for their 2026 home opener. They just added wide receiver Chandler Brayboy and outside linebacker Xavier Holmes to their 17-man group, looking for grit and depth as Week 2 approaches.
Brayboy Gets Another Shot
Chandler Brayboy, a 25-year-old wideout from Elon, is getting another shot in the NFL, and you gotta love to see it. This guy entered the league back in 2025 with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. He spent his entire rookie regular season grinding away on their practice squad, then got waived at the 53-man roster deadline in August. His college resume is stacked: 55 games, 46 starts since 2019, an FCS All-American, CAA Special Teams Player of the Year, and a Phoenix team captain. He racked up 2,660 receiving yards, 245 rushing yards, a massive 1,568 kickoff return yards, and 22 all-purpose touchdowns. That kind of versatility is exactly the upside a practice squad needs, ready to explode.
Holmes Joins the Linebacker Depth
Joining Brayboy is Xavier Holmes, a 24-year-old outside linebacker. Holmes’ journey into the league is a classic underdog story. He first showed up at rookie minicamp as an undrafted tryout back in May, eventually earning his first NFL contract with the Patriots. He was among the initial wave of cuts after the preseason finale in August, but the team clearly liked what they saw. He played 25 games for Maine before transferring to James Madison for his fifth year. As a redshirt senior for the Dukes in 2025, he posted 30 tackles, six sacks, a fumble recovery, an interception, and a blocked kick across 14 appearances. That’s a playmaker Vrabel’s squad will need for special teams or injury depth.
Making Room for the New Blood
To bring in Brayboy and Holmes, the Patriots had to make some tough calls, releasing running back Hassan Haskins and safety Elliott Davison from the practice squad. Haskins, a 26-year-old veteran, only signed with New England just before the preseason opener. He was a fourth-round pick back in 2022, No. 131 overall, and had stops with the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Chargers. Through 44 career games, this former first-team All-Big Ten honoree out of Michigan notched 76 carries for 229 yards, 18 catches for 119 yards, three touchdowns, and one start, logging 371 snaps on offense and 683 on special teams. Davison, 24, an undrafted safety from UTSA in 2025, joined the practice squad in September after spending his rookie year with the Saints. Tough breaks, but it’s the nature of the beast in this league.
These moves are all about solidifying depth as Vrabel’s 0-1 squad prepares to host the 1-0 Pittsburgh Steelers. Every player on that 17-man practice squad matters, and these additions show the Patriots are leaving no stone unturned to get their first win of the 2026 season. It’s Week 2, and the grind is real.
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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