Pats Pulpit
A 53-man roster spot has opened in Foxborough to begin the week.
The New England Patriots waived linebacker Caleb Murphy on Monday, the organization announced, making room for an impending arrival.
Murphy, 26, appeared in five games after being claimed off the wire from the Los Angeles Chargers in October. The 6-foot-3, 254-pounder totaled 79 snaps on special teams over that span in a core role and recorded a pair of tackles.
Originally entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with head coach Mike Vrabel’s former Tennessee Titans in 2023, Murphy has checked into 19 career games. The two-time Division II national champion out of Grand Valley State and Ferris State has had a hand in 19 tackles and a half-sack. He’s logged 493 snaps on defense and 808 snaps on special teams.
Sunday’s 35-31 loss featured kickoff returns of 38, 45 and 58 yards by the Buffalo Bills’ Ray Davis, however, setting the stage for another move.
New England intends to sign linebacker Chad Muma off the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Monday.
Muma, 26, has appeared in 55 games since entering the league with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2022 draft at No. 77 overall. The Wyoming alum stands 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three passes defensed and seven starts into his career. He has seen 722 snaps on defense and 911 snaps on special teams.
As league’s roster deadline passed in August, Muma was awarded to Indianapolis. The 6-foot-3, 239-pound linebacker made a handful of appearances during his second AFC South stop before being waived and retained on the practice squad in November.
For now, the active roster at Gillette Stadium includes 52 and the practice squad includes 16.
Patriots defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III officially reverted on Monday after serving as a standard elevation over the weekend.
Taylor, 23, debuted with five snaps on the defensive line and notched two tackles on rushes by quarterback Josh Allen. Undrafted out of the University of Miami in 2024, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Taylor joined the practice squad in October after being waived by the New York Jets. He has recorded 29 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pair of batted passes through 17 NFL games.
