Former New England Patriots director of participant personnel Nick Caserio’s connections stay.
Many of whom might be discovered between the energetic roster, observe squad and reserve lists of the common supervisor’s Houston Texans. But the familiarity flows each instructions heading into Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
(*9*)Here’s a look by the previous and current gamers in the fold for the 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
HOUSTON
J.J. Taylor, working again — Taylor signed to the Texans’ observe squad final fall and was re-signed at the scout workforce’s formation in August after his launch. The 5-foot-6 working again has been an elevation for 3 video games in 2024, logging 21 yards from scrimmage by 9 touches. Entering the NFL as half of the Patriots’ undrafted class of 2020, Taylor spent components of three years between the energetic roster and observe squad earlier than his remaining exit. The 26-year-old Arizona product noticed motion in 12 video games over that span. He tallied 156 speeding yards, 20 receiving yards, 123 return yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Dalton Keene, tight finish — Placed on injured reserve following a torn ACL in August, Keene had arrived in Houston the earlier coaching camp. He spent 2023 on the observe squad and served as an elevation for one recreation. Selected by the Patriots in the third spherical of the 2020 class, the hybrid fullback out of Virginia Tech performed in six video games as a rookie earlier than touchdown on injured reserve. Across 140 offensive snaps got here three catches for 16 yards. Keene then spent all of 2021 on injured reserve following knee surgical procedure and was waived at the 80-man roster deadline in 2022. The 25-year-old has additionally been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos.
Shaq Mason, guard — A two-time Super Bowl champion, Mason’s run with the Patriots started at choose No. 131 total in the 2015 draft. A five-year, $50 million contract extension adopted for the road-grading guard out of Georgia Tech. He earned an honorable point out as half of the franchise’s All-Dynasty workforce and began 111 video games between his common seasons and postseasons in Foxborough. In change for a fifth-rounder, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired Mason in 2022. The 31-year-old was then traded to Houston the subsequent offseason and signed a three-year, $36 million extension. He has began each recreation since then.
Arlington Hambright, guard — The Texans added Hambright to the observe squad one week into September. The 28-year-old offensive lineman spent the earlier two campaigns between the observe squad and energetic roster of the Indianapolis Colts. Originally touchdown with the Chicago Bears in the seventh spherical of the 2020 class, Hambright appeared in 9 video games, beginning one, for the group that drafted him. He then headed to Foxborough on futures contract in 2022. Work at left deal with, left guard and proper guard adopted in preseason motion earlier than he was waived at the 53-man deadline that summer time.
Myles Bryant, cornerback — The Texans agreed to phrases with the 26-year-old Bryant in March. Arriving in Foxborough as an undrafted free agent out of Washington in 2020, he went on to seem in 55 video games, together with 17 begins, whereas with the Patriots. The versatile defensive again’s run spanned 200 tackles, two sacks, three compelled fumbles and one fumble restoration to go together with 4 interceptions and work as a punt returner. After being tendered at the right-of-first-refusal degree of $2.627 million in restricted free company, Bryant noticed 74.8 % of the snaps on protection, 20.9 % of the snaps on particular groups and completed with a career-high 77 tackles in 2023.
D’Angelo Ross, cornerback — Via Fullerton College and New Mexico, Ross joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2019. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve and all of his second season on the observe squad, the nook grew to become a call-up for 4 consecutive video games to finish 2021. He recorded his first begin and three tackles earlier than departing on a futures contract with the Miami Dolphins. The 27-year-old then signed with Houston’s observe squad halfway by the 2022 marketing campaign. A latest promotion to the 53-man roster, his Texans tenure has spanned 17 video games and 10 tackles.
NEW ENGLAND
Alex Austin, cornerback — The Patriots positioned Austin on injured reserve at the finish of September after he had been dominated out on account of an ankle problem. The 23-year-old cornerback out of Oregon State was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh spherical of the 2023 NFL draft. Claimed off waivers at the finish of his rookie preseason, he debuted as a Texan and noticed 5 snaps on protection earlier than turning into a free agent final November. Austin signed to the 53-man roster in Foxborough quickly after. His Patriots keep has included one begin throughout eight contests, plus one interception and 9 tackles.
Mark Perry, security — Perry went undrafted in the spring after showing in 53 video games between his time at Colorado and Texas Christian. The 23-year-old security spent his rookie coaching camp with the Dolphins earlier than being waived at the league’s cutdown deadline. From there, he turned the calendar to September on the observe squad in Houston. His launch after the first week common season led to a exercise in Foxborough. He subsequently signed to the observe squad and continues to reside there.
Joey Slye, kicker — Slye has transformed on 9-of-11 subject objectives and 5-of-5 additional factors since outlasting sophomore specialist Chad Ryland. The May arrival, who set the franchise report from 63 yards out in September, stands on his seventh NFL workforce. Count the Texans amongst the earlier stops for a Virginia Tech product who went undrafted in 2018. Slye signed to Houston’s scout workforce at the begin of the 2021 marketing campaign and served as an elevation for 3 contests in the absence of injured incumbent Ka’imi Fairbairn. The 28-year-old went 4-of-5 on subject objectives and 7-of-8 on additional factors earlier than being waived.
