New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots opened their 2025 campaign with a disappointing 20-13 loss at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. In the aftermath of this game, the Patriots decided to reunite with a veteran defensive lineman they released right before Week 1.
That player would be former starting defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. In a surprise move before taking on Las Vegas, the Pats opted to release Pharms, despite handing him a two-year contract extension just a few months ago.
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for Pharms to return to New England. On Tuesday, the team announced that Pharms had re-signed with the team as a member of their practice squad, providing some more depth along their defensive line.
“The New England Patriots announced today that they have waived CB D.J. James from the 53-man roster and signed DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. to the practice squad. Pharms was released from the 53-man roster on Sept. 6, 2025,” the team said on its official website.
With the Patriots’ defensive line being battered last season, Pharms appeared in 16 games for the team, five of which were starts. During that time, he racked up 33 tackles and two sacks, which helped him earn his aforementioned contract.
With Milton Williams being signed in free agency and Christian Barmore returning after missing most of the 2024 campaign with blood clots, there isn’t much room for Pharms currently. That may not be true later in the year, though, which is why stashing him on the practice squad could be a beneficial move.
For now, Pharms will be working behind the scenes to keep himself game-ready in the event his services are needed. New England will turn its attention to their Week 2 matchup, where it will take on the Miami Dolphins.
