The Patriots made a series of roster moves ahead of Sunday's regular-season opener vs. the Raiders, including signing DT Cory Durden to the 53-man roster.
In a corresponding roster move, New England released DT Jeremiah Pharms, who had been with the team since the 2022 season, and elevated DB Corey Ballentine and LB Mark Robinson from the practice squad. The Patriots now have 55 players available for Sunday's game at Gillette Stadium, meaning they'll need to declare seven players as game-day inactives (CB Christian Gonzalez [hamstring] and CB Charles Woods [groin] are ruled out for Sunday's game).
The decision to swap Durden for Pharms on the 53-man roster is interesting for head coach Mike Vrabel. Pharms first joined the Patriots during the 2022 offseason and signed a two-year contract extension this past February as an exclusive rights free agent. Last season, Pharms had two sacks, 19 total pressures and 16 stops while playing 43.2% of the Patriots defensive snaps. The third-year pro is now subject to waivers. If he clears waivers, Pharms could return on the practice squad.
As for Durden, the 26-year-old defensive tackle has appeared in eight games with the Rams and Giants over the last two seasons. He then spent the summer with the Giants before being waived on cutdown day, and then joined the Patriots practice squad after clearing waivers. Durden has logged four total pressures and four stops in limited action with Los Angeles and New York, playing primarily in the A-Gaps as a one-technique nose tackle. The first-year pro has also played some on special teams, specifically on field goal block units over the last two seasons.
Pharms is the latest holdover to be released by the new regime. Durden is considered a high-motor interior defender with solid play speed in pursuit, while Pharms was more of a gap-plugging defensive tackle with some pass-rush upside. Although it's not a significant roster move, this could be another example of stylistic fit playing into the Patriots decision-making on the defensive line.
Moving on to the Patriots practice squad elevations, Ballentine and Robinson both project to contribute on special teams in Sunday's opener.
Earlier this week, special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer noted that the Patriots were still undecided on who would play gunner opposite All-Pro coverage ace Brenden Schooler. Ballentine was a core special-teamer for the Packers last season, playing on 51.2% of Green Bay's special teams plays, and has extensive experience as a gunner over seven NFL seasons. Therefore, it would make sense if the Pats settled on Ballentine being their second gunner opposite Schooler for Week 1. Ballentine can also serve as cornerback depth with the Patriots down top CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring). Robinson's role on special teams is less clear, but the fourth-year pro was a core special-teamer for the Steelers over the last two seasons. Robinson was a regular on four different special teams units for Pittsburgh during the 2024 season.
Following roster cutdown day on Aug. 26, the Patriots have made several changes to the 53-man roster and practice squad. New England has released veterans Jabrill Peppers and Kendrick Bourne, and after initially signing 16 players that were in training camp with the team this summer, the Patriots added seven new faces on the practice squad, including Ballentine, Durden, and Robinson, who were in training camps elsewhere this summer. All the shuffling shows how fluid the bottom of the roster is in the NFL.
The Patriots kickoff of the 2025 season vs. the Raiders at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
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