The Patriots made a handful of roster moves, including an unexpected cut on Saturday and got good news on one injured player.
The Patriots signed defensive tackle Cory Durden to their 53-man roster from the practice squad and released Jeremiah Pharms Jr., a former defensive starter, who played in 16 games and made five starts last year.
They elevated defensive back Corey Ballentine and linebacker Mark Robinson from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
Left tackle Will Campbell, New England’s first-round pick, is officially questionable for the Patriots opener against the Raiders, but according to Jordan Schultz, he’s on track to make his NFL debut on Sunday.
Schultz tweeted:
“#Patriots rookie OT Will Campbell, listed as questionable (ankle), is on track to play Sunday vs the #Raiders, per league source”
The fact that the Patriots didn’t elevate an offensive lineman from their practice squad supports that report.
The Patriots face the Raiders on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.
With Christian Gonzalez already ruled out, Ballantine’s elevation wasn’t a surprise.
Ballentine, 29, has played seven NFL seasons after the Giants selected him in the sixth round in 2019. He has played in 69 NFL games, including 11 starts. He also has special teams experience.
While Robinson is a linebacker, he evolved as a key special teams player in three seasons with the Steelers and played every game in 2023 and 2024, and made 36 tackles over the past two seasons. That’s likely the role he’s being elevated to play on Sunday.
The 5-foot-11, 236-pound 26-year-old was a seventh-round pick out of Mississippi in 2022.
The Patriots signed Durden, 26, to their practice squad on Aug. 28 after he was released by the Lions on cutdown day. He spent time on the Rams’ active roster last year.
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