The New England Patriots have made headlines with a decisive and brutal round of roster cuts, releasing 14 players as the NFL season looms. With their opening game against the Las Vegas Raiders set for September 7, 2025, the Patriots are trimming their roster to meet the league’s 53-man threshold, following a commanding 48-18 preseason victory over the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the cuts, which include a mix of rookie free agents and training camp additions. The players released are Jaheim Bell, Micah Bernard, Philip Blidi, Isaiah Bolden, Cole Fotheringham, Phil Lutz, RJ. Moten, Kyle Peko, Jordan Polk, Monty Rice, Tyrese Robinson, Sidy Sow, Shane Watts, and Ben Wooldridge. Among them, Polk and Wooldridge joined as rookie free agents during the offseason, while Bernard, Watts, Lutz, Fotheringham, Peko, Blidi, and Moten were brought in during July’s training camp.
Despite these cuts, the Patriots’ work is far from done. The current roster stands at 77 players, including exempt international player David Olajiga, meaning an additional 24 players must be released before the NFL’s 4:00 PM ET deadline on August 24, 2025. Vrabel has emphasized that the team is actively seeking ways to strengthen the roster, hinting at potential trades or waiver claims in the coming days. “We’re going to continually try to strengthen the roster every way we can,” Vrabel said post-game. “You can try to trade for players. You could try to claim some players next week.”
The cuts reflect the harsh reality of the NFL, where tough decisions are made to finalize rosters before the season kicks off. For the 14 players released, the sudden unemployment marks a challenging moment, but opportunities may arise elsewhere as teams across the league finalize their lineups. As the Patriots prepare for their season opener, Vrabel’s focus remains on building a competitive team, with further roster moves expected in the next 10 days.
Here’s who is on the list:
LB RJ Moten
The Patriots brought Moten, a 6-foot, 224-pound linebacker in last month on the same day they placed Brock Lampe on injured reserve.
He joined New England as an undrafted free agent out of Florida after playing in the UFL during the spring. He made three tackles during the preseason, including two in Thursday’s finale.
RB Micah Bernard
Bernard didn’t spend much time with the Patriots, having been signed just three days ago. He initially signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent, but Tennessee released him in June.
WR Phil Lutz
Lutz played the bulk of his college career at Tufts before transferring to University of Delaware for his final two college seasons.
The Patriots brought him in last week after defensive tackle Isaiah Iton was placed on injured reserve.
TE Cole Fotheringham
Fotheringham, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight-end, spent two seasons on the Raiders’ practice squad and also had stops in Houston and Denver before briefly joining New England.
He played in two games for the Raiders in 2023, making one catch.
RB Shane Watts
Watts got 15 touches in Thursday’s loss to the Giants, rushing for 52 yards. He converted to running back at Division II Fort Hays State, where he began as a defensive back.
DT Philip Blidi
Blidi, a 6-foot-3, 297-pound defensive tackle, was another player who initially joined the Titans before the Patriots bought him in. He was a rookie free agent out of Auburn, and also played for Indiana and Texas Tech when he was in school.
QB Ben Wooldridge
Wooldridge played the entirety of Thursday’s game, throwing a touchdown pass to Jeremiah Webb as well as an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
The Patriots are down to two quarterbacks with Wooldridge’s release, starter Drake Maye, and backup Josh Dobbs.
CB Jordan Polk
Not to be confused with wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, who is reportedly heading to injured reserve.
The Patriots brought cornerback Jordan Polk in as an undrafted free agent in May. He had an interception and nine tackles this preseason, but the Patriots’ depth at cornerback did not lend itself to a spot for him.
DT Kyle Peko
Peko has been making stps around the league since 2016, when he began his career with the Jaguars.
The 32-year-old defensive tackle made 59 career tackles and two sacks during stops with the Broncos, Bills, Titans, Raiders, and Lions.
LB Monty Rice
Rice has appeared in 38 NFL games with 11 starts, including three games and one start with the Patriots last year.
He had a career-high 39 tackles in 2022 with the Titans, where Vrabel was coaching at the time.
OL Sidy Sow
Sow made 13 starts at right guard as a rookie in 2023 after the Patriots took him in the first round.
His playing time diminished last season, with just one start. Mike Onwenu moved back to right guard after the coaching staff experimented with him at tackle.
The Patriots did not opt to keep him as a depth piece on their already thin offensive line.
CB Isaiah Bolden
Bolden was one of the FCS’ top kick returners during his time at Jackson State playing for Deion Sanders, but that success did not translate with the Patriots.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound cornerback spent most of last season on the Patriots’ 53-man roster, but made just five tackles.
TE Jaheim Bell
Bell, a 2024 seventh-round pick from Florida State, played in 15 games for the Patriots last season, making two catches for 20 yards.
With Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper leading the tight-end room, the Patriots are solid at that position but perhaps could use a third tight-end.
OL Tyrese Robinson
Robinson, a 6-foot-3, 319-pound offensive guard, has spent time on several practice squads over the past few years, including Washington, Philadelphia, and Minnesota.
