Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots opened the final week of the preseason with movement.
Defensive tackle Isaiah Iton has been placed on injured reserve due to a hip injury, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told reporters ahead of Monday’s practice. Wide receiver Phil Lutz will take the open spot on the organization’s 91-man roster.
Iton, 23, exited in the third quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. He saw 14 defensive snaps in the 20-12 win and registered a pair of tackles, including one for loss.
The 6-foot-2, 294-pound Iton had signed in Foxborough after attending rookie minicamp as a second-year tryout. Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024, he spent his rookie season on the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans and was waived from his futures contract in April. Iton made stops at Northern Colorado and Hutchinson Community College before appearing in 36 games between Ole Miss and Rutgers.
Lutz, 24, finished his collegiate career at Delaware after spending four years in Division III at Tufts. The 6-foot, 200-pound wideout earned third-team All-CAA honors in 2024. While starting every game last fall, he led the Blue Hens with 45 catches for 863 yards and 11 touchdowns. The graduate student set the program record with receiving touchdowns in each of the first seven games.
Prior to the 2025 NFL draft, Lutz participated in the Patriots’ local pro day. He later returned for rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
“He’s a guy that showed well in both,” Wolf said, “and we’ve been keeping in touch with him should the opportunity arise.”
The New York Giants host Thursday’s preseason finale at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
