Examining the roster ties between Patriots, Titans ahead of Week 7

Examining the roster ties between Patriots, Titans ahead of Week 7
Pats Pulpit Pats Pulpit

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will be back where he once was on Sunday.

The same sentiment goes for John Streicher, Ryan Cowden, Tony Dews, Todd Downing, Jason Houghtaling, Zak Kuhr, Clint McMillan, Scott Booker, Justin Hamilton, Milton Patterson, Tom Quinn and Frank Piraino. And especially so for Terrell Williams while away from the team.

The connections to the Tennessee Titans continue with the players. Between the active rosters, practice squads and reserve lists, 13 currently in the fold have been part of both organizations during their NFL careers.

Here’s a glance through the list of former Patriots and former Titans as Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Nissan Stadium nears.

TENNESSEE

Mason Kinsey, wide receiver — Residing on the practice squad this fall, Kinsey entered the NFL as part of Tennessee’s 2020 undrafted class after tallying 50 touchdown catches at Berry College. The Division III standout cleared waivers following his rookie preseason and joined New England’s practice squad at its formation. Released twice from there, he returned to the Titans on a futures contract for 2021. Since then, the 27-year-old receiver and returner has appeared in 15 games as a standard elevation and member of the active roster. His tenure in the AFC South includes 19 punt returns for 138 yards. It also includes four receptions for 27 yards across 117 snaps on offense and 72 snaps on special teams.

Corey Levin, center — Back on the 53-man roster, Levin stands 77 games into his time with the Titans. The organization called his name in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft at No. 217 overall. The former Chattanooga Moc made subsequent stops with the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears and New York Jets. And he spent two days on the practice squad in Foxborough in 2020 before being released, too. The 31-year-old center and guard has started five games while part of the offensive line in Tennessee. He returned there as a waiver claim in September 2021.

Curtis Jacobs, linebacker — Signed to the practice squad before the calendar turned to October, Jacobs served as an elevation during Brian Callahan’s final game as Titans head coach. He had originally been claimed off waivers in the spring. Nashville was the destination for the 23-year-old linebacker as the Patriots cleared room following the 2025 NFL draft. Jacobs appeared in nine games as an undrafted rookie last season after being awarded from the Kansas City Chiefs at the 53-man roster deadline. Those games included a pair of starts off the edges. The Penn State product handled four tackles through 159 snaps worth of defense and special teams.

Joey Slye, kicker — The 29-year-old Slye outlasted a kicker competition at Gillette Stadium in 2024. He set a franchise record with a 63-yarder from there, finishing his lone season with the Patriots having gone 26-of-33 on field goals and 25-of-26 on extra points. A deal with the Titans was struck as an unrestricted free agent. The veteran specialist has made...