FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced today a series of transactions. The team signed DT Cory Durden to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and released DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
In addition, the Patriots elevated DB Corey Ballentine and LB Mark Robinson to the active roster from the practice squad.
Durden, 26, was signed by New England to the practice squad on Aug. 28, 2025. He originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Detroit Lions on May 12, 2023, out of North Carolina State. The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder, was released by Detroit at the end of training camp and was signed by the Los Angeles Rams to the practice squad before joining the 53-man roster and finishing the year on the practice squad. He began the 2024 season on the Rams practice squad before being signed by the Giants to the 53-man roster on Dec. 2, 2024. Overall, he has played in eight games and has 13 total tackles.
Ballentine, 29, was signed by New England to the practice squad on Aug. 28, 2025. He is a veteran of seven NFL seasons with the New York Giants (2019-20), New York Jets (2020), Detroit Lions (2021) and Green Bay Packers (2022-24). The 5-foot-11, 196-pounder, originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick by the Giants in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Washburn. He has played in 69 NFL games with 11 starts and has 67 total tackles, 1 interception and 2 forced fumbles and has returned 37 kickoffs for 876 yards. Ballentine was signed by Indianapolis as an unrestricted free agent this past spring but was released on Aug. 1, 2025. He then signed with Green Bay on Aug. 4 but was released on Aug. 26, 2025.
Robinson, 26, was signed by New England to the practice squad on Aug. 28, 2025. He is a veteran of three NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after originally joining the team as a seventh-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Mississippi. The 5-foot-11, 235-pounder, has played in 38 NFL games with four starts and has 34 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 11 special teams tackles.
Pharms, 28, originally joined New England on July 19, 2022 after playing for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder, spent the entire 2022 season on the practice squad and then after starting the 2023 season on the practice squad was signed to the 53-man roster. He has played in 28 games with five starts over the last two seasons and has 42 total tackles and 2 sacks.
