Patriots links 11/26/25: Pats must fix the Red zone dead zone

TEAM TALK

• Roster Moves: T Thayer Munford Jr. has been signed to the 53-man roster from the Browns practice squad. CB Alex Austin has been placed on IR, G Bill Murray has been signed to the practice squad.
• Evan Lazar reports Efton Chism honors ‘Big Heart, Big Smile’ Foundation with custom cleats.
• Mike Dussault tells us Rodney Harrison, Adam Vinatieri, and Vince Wilfork advanced as Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of ’26 Semifinalists
• Vrabel X’s and O’s: Film review of the key moments from the win over the Bengals. (3 min. video)
• Sights and Sounds: Marcus Jones and the defense secure win vs. Bengals. (3.37 min. video)
• Community: Drake Maye supports Special Olympics Massachusetts for My Cause My Cleats. (4 min. video)
• Player Poll: When is too soon for Xmas decorations? (1 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike D’Abate reports the Patriots signed former Raiders OT Thayer Munford Jr. to the active roster, hoping to fortify their offensive line depth amid a series of costly injuries.
• Nick Goss points out how the Patriots are a mess in the red zone right now, and it must be fixed.
• Darren Hartwell and Phil Perry update the Pats-Bengals Stock Watch: Hunter Henry goes off; goal-line offense a concern.
• Matt Vautour relays Mike Vrabel updating the status of the injured, absent players. In Week 12 the Pats lost Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Khyiris Tonga and Brendan Schooler to injuries and were without Jahlani Tavai for personal reasons.
• Mark Morse clears out the Patriots Notebook on Cincinnati: Easy schedule, injuries, inability to run the ball, defense giving up 1st drive scores; More.
• Bob George shares 16 NFL thoughts from Week 12: Geek of the week; Rams look frightening right now; More.
• Doug Kyed‘s Patriots mailbag: Can new coaching staff lift replacement offensive linemen?
• Alex Barth‘s Patriots Mailbag: Looking back and looking forward heading into Thanksgiving.
• Mike D’Abate notes Drake Maye was among Patriots players distributing Thanksgiving baskets.
• WEEI guest Tom E. Curran says he wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots lost their next three games in the wake of major injuries along their offensive and defensive lines.
• Chris Mason writes about the remarkable journey of Patriots RB Terrell Jennings.
• Chris Mason says the Bills signed free agent and former Patriot WR Brandin Cooks.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Jeffri Chadiha (NFL.com) Six NFL units that need a wake-up call over final six weeks of 2025 regular season. MVP Watch: Drake Maye No. 2 behind Matthew Stafford.
• Albert Breer (SI) Tuesday Notes: Jaxon Smith-Njigba might be the NFL’s most outstanding player: Plus, the Packers’ sturdy defense and J.J. McCarthy’s struggles.
• Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) 2025 NFL Thanksgiving schedule: Cowboys host Chiefs to headline huge holiday triple-header. /Go Cowboys!
• Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) Week 13 NFL QB Power Rankings. No. 2 Drake Maye.
• Zachary Pereles (CBS Sports) Ranking all eight divisional races two-thirds of the way...