The New England Patriots completed the NFL’s 53-player cutdown on Aug. 30, 2026, making 11 final moves that included waiving several young players, releasing three vested veterans and placing Harold Landry III on the PUP list.
Patriots made 11 final transactions to meet the 53-man roster deadline, including waivers, releases and a PUP designation.
Outside linebacker Harold Landry III begins the regular season on the physically unable to perform list and will miss at least the first four games.
# What happened The NFL's 53-man roster deadline passed at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The New England Patriots announced the final 11 transactions that reduced the roster to the league-mandated 53 players. Moves included seven players waived, three vested veterans released, and one player placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
# Who was moved The Patriots waived these players: running back Lan Larison, wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer, offensive tackle Jack Conley, defensive tackles Isaiah Iton and Casey Rogers, cornerback Kobee Minor and safety John Saunders Jr.
They released vested veterans Kindle Vildor (cornerback), Mike Brown (safety) and punter Matt Haack. Outside linebacker Harold Landry III was officially placed on PUP and will miss at least the first four regular-season games.
# Quick context for the players involved
Tejhaun Palmer (WR): A 26-year-old claimed off waivers in early August. Palmer entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2024 and spent time on the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad before making a 53-man roster appearance in January.
Jack Conley (OT): A 25-year-old large-bodied tackle who originally joined New England as an undrafted free agent in 2025. He spent time on multiple practice squads, including brief stints back with the Patriots.
Isaiah Iton (DT): A 24-year-old who re-signed with New England for training camp after missing time on injured reserve and not receiving a tender as an exclusive rights free agent. He entered the league after a rookie minicamp tryout in 2025.
Casey Rogers (DT): A 27-year-old who joined in training camp, originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and has had stops with the Giants, Bills and the UFL's DC Defenders.
Kobee Minor (CB): The 24-year-old who was the No. 257 overall pick in 2025 and appeared in four games as a rookie, mostly on special teams.
Kindle Vildor (CB): A 29-year-old veteran with prior NFL starts and stops, including an interception in the Patriots' preseason.
Matt Haack (P): A 32-year-old veteran who averaged 46.5 yards per punt in the preseason and has played for multiple NFL teams over his career.
Harold Landry III (OLB): The 30-year-old team captain in 2025 opened camp on PUP and will miss at least four games. He joined New England after seven seasons with Tennessee and has one Pro Bowl nod.
# Immediate implications The moves complete New England's initial 53-man roster for the start of the 2026 season. Waived players with fewer than four accrued seasons will pass through waivers and could be claimed by other teams or revert to free agency and the Patriots' practice squad. The releases of vested veterans freed roster spots without subjecting those players to waivers.
# What to watch next
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