Patriots Sign Pharms, Elevate McDermott - Pats Tracker

Fair enough. But Andrews is obviously in the minority. The first Star Wars movie debuted in 1977 and the science-fiction saga has grown into one of the most successful and popular movie franchises ever.

Down here on Earth, Andrews and his fellow Patriots offensive linemen improved their play drastically in last week's upset win over the Bills.

OCT. 25 PATRIOTS COACH BILL BELICHICK ADVISES TEAM WILL ATTEMPT TO RE-SIGN QB MALIK CUNNINGHAM, IF UNCLAIMED, CLARIFIES POSITION ON TREY FLOWERS — The New England Patriots made some waves throughout the NFL waters on Tuesday when they waived undrafted rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham.

Should he remain unclaimed however, Patriots coach Bill Belichick confirmed on Wednesday that the Louisville product will not be unemployed for long. 

“If he’s not claimed,” Belichick responded when asked if the team would attempt to re-sign Cunningham. He would add that Cunningham’s release was made as it was “best for the team.”

The move came as a surprise, especially after  Patriots signed him to a three-year contract just two weeks ago prior to their Week 6 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.  However, Cunningham’s limited usage in that game, matched with the re-emergence of starting quarterback Mac Jones, may have made Cunningham’s services expendable. Still, his electrifying athleticism has not only made him a fan favorite, it has been of invaluable help to the Patriots on the scout team. Either way, Patriots Nation will learn Cunningham’s fate in a Pats uniform on Wednesday afternoon, when the NFL’s waiver wire claims are revealed. 

The Patriots also released veteran defensive end Trey Flowers on Tuesday, after his 21-day window of activation was ready to expire. While Belichick seemed quite open to welcoming back Cunningham, he did not seem so optimistic regarding Flowers.

"Trey's in a little different situation," Belichick said. "So, we'll just leave that where it is. There's other rules and other things involved. A much longer discussion."

OCT. 23 BELICHICK MUM ON "NEW" CONTRACT - For the first time in a long time, Sunday was a good day for Bill Belichick. His team broke a three-game losing streak with its upset of the Bills. He picked up his 300th career regular-season win, joining only George Halas and Don Shula in the exclusive club. And, before kickoff, reports surfaced about the coach agreeing last offseason to a new contract extension.

All of that should've - could've? - softened Belichick's grumpy exterior on Monday morning. But, of course, it didn't.

During his regular weekly radio appearance on WEEI, Belichick was asked about the report and his job security and/or status.

Grumbled Bill, “Yeah, I’m not talking about that.”

So much for a happy "Victory Monday."

OCT. 22 PATRIOTS LIST SIX INACTIVES, BILLS ALSO DECLARE SIX - The New England Patriots (1-5) are set for their Week 7 matchup with the Buffalo Bills (4-2) at Gillette Stadium.

The Pats enter this matchup hoping to rebound from their 21-17 defeat at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders. Conversely, the Bills are fresh off a 14-9 victory over the New York Giants last Sunday night. 

With just over an hour until the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, the Patriots and Bills have released their lists of inactives:

PATRIOTS INACTIVES:

QB Malik Cunningham 

WR Kayshon Boutte

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

T Calvin Anderson

LB Josh Uche

DE Keion White

Will Grier — Emergency Third Quarterback

BILLS INACTIVES:

S Damar Hamlin

LB A.J. Klein

T German Ifedi

G Alec Anderson

TE Quintin Morris

DT Ed Oliver 

OCT. 21  PATRIOTS ELEVATE WR JALEN REAGOR, TRYSTEN HILL FROM PRACTICE SQUAD VS. BUFFALO BILLS - The New England Patriots have elevated defensive lineman Trysten Hill and receiver Jalen Reagor to the active roster from the practice squad in anticipation of their Week 7 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. 

Reagor is being elevated to the active roster for the third time this season. He was elevated prior to the game against Miami on Sept. 17 and dressed but did not play. The TCU product played on 14 offensive snaps in last Sunday's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Reagor joined the Patriots practice squad in Sept. after spending the past three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (2020-21) and Minnesota Vikings (2022.) The former first-round pick has played in 44 regular season games with 24 starts and has 72 receptions for 799 yards with four touchdowns, returned 12 kicks for 255 yards and 61 punts for 488 yards with one touchdown.

Hill is a veteran of four NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2019-22) and Arizona Cardinals (2022). The 6-3, 310-pounder, was signed by New England to the practice squad on Oct. 4. He originally entered the NFL as a second-round draft pick (no.58 overall) by Dallas in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Central Florida. He was released by Dallas in Nov. 2022 and claimed off waivers by Arizona just one day later. This season, he signed with the Cleveland Browns as an unrestricted free agent in March. Hill began the 2023 season on the Cleveland practice squad before being released on Sept. 26. Overall, he has played in 31 regular season games with five starts and has accumulated 39 total tackles and 1 sack.

OCT. 20 TOM BRADY'S LAS VEGAS ACES TAKE WNBA TILE Yet another win in New York has given New England Patriots icon Tom Brady yet another championship ring.

Behind a 24-point, 16-rebound double-double from A'ja Wilson, Brady's Las Vegas Aces became the first back-to-back WNBA champions since 2001-02. A 70-69 victory over the New York Liberty at Barclays Center gave Vegas a 3-1 win in the best-of-five set and Wilson was bestowed the Finals MVP award.

The Vegas victory comes 16 days after Brady's minority stake purchase of the team was approved. He is listed as a co-owner of the team alongside Las Vegas Raiders partner Mark Davis. 

OCT. 19: PATRIOTS RELEASE AMEER SPEED, FREES 53-MAN ROSTER SPOT - The New England Patriots announced on Thursday they have released defensive back Ameer Speed.

Speed was drafted by New England in the sixth-round (No. 214 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Michigan State. The 6-3, 215-pound cornerback, played in five of the first six games of the 2023 season and has two total tackles on defense and one special teams tackle.

While Speed's release may be a bit surprising, considering his heavy usage on special teams, New England has a handful of players -- including cornerback Jack Jones, defensive end Trey Flowers and safety/special teamer Cody Davis (all of whom have been back practicing) -- eligible to return from either injured reserve, or the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The 24-year-old's release may signify that the Pats are ready to incorporate Jones, Davis or Flowers back to the 53-man roster. 

Should Speed clear waivers, he is a likely candidate to sign with the Pats practice squad. 

OCT. 18 PATRIOTS RB PATRICK TAYLOR, DE WILLIAM BRADLEY-KING TO PRACTICE SQUAD - The New England Patriots are making a pair of additions to their practice squad in advance of their Week 7 matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. 

New England, as first reported by MassLive's Mark Daniels, signed running back Patrick Taylor and defensive end William Bradley-King on Wednesday. At present, it is expected that receiver T.J. Luther and defensive tackle Manny Jones have been released from the scout team, as neither player was present for the team's practice session. 

Taylor signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Memphis in 2020. The 25-year-old appeared in 27 games compiling 151 rushing yards, 48 receiving yards and one touchdown. The 6-7, 217-pound running back was waived by the Packers last week after having been elevated from their practice squad three times. Taylor also had a short stint on Green Bay's 53-man roster. 

Bradley-King, also 25, was selected by the Washington Commanders in the seventh round (no. 240 overall) of the 2021 NFL draft. The 6-3, 254-pound defender has taken 83 pro-level snaps on defense, while logging seven tackles and one half-sack. He was released from Washington's practice squad on Saturday.

OCT. 17 PATRIOTS SIGN OL CONOR MCDERMOTT TO PRACTICE SQUAD - The New England Patriots welcoming back a familiar face to their scout team ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. 

The Pats, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, are expected to sign offensive lineman Conor McDermott to their practice squad. McDermott, just two days shy of his 31st birthday, was spotted at Gillette Stadium prior to the start of Tuesday's practice before joining his teammates on the field while wearing a no. 75 Pats practice jersey.

McDermott's signing will technically mark his third tour of duty with New England. Though he was drafted by the Pats in 2017, he did not play a regular season snap for the team during his rookie campaign. McDermott was released by the Patriots during final roster cut downs that September. The UCLA product was then signed to the Patriots 53-man roster in November 2022 off the New York Jets practice squad. McDermott started all six games he played for New England in 2022, allowing eight pressures without surrendering a sack. 

For much of New England's preseason and training camp, he aligned with the team's starting offensive line. Despite being released with an injury settlement shortly before final roster cutdowns, the Pats have added his services to a unit which is in need of help at right tackle. 

OCT. 15 PATRIOTS LIST SIX INACTIVES, RAIDERS ALSO DECLARE SIX - The New England Patriots (1-4) are set for their Week 6 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders (2-3) at Allegiant Stadium.

With a great deal of speculation surrounding the quarterback position throughout the week, Mac Jones will remain the starter, with rookie Malik Cunningham designated as his backup. Second-year signal caller Bailey Zappe will be the emergency third quarterback, while Will Grier is a healthy scratch. 

Having missed the entire week of practice while in concussion protocol, receivers Demario Douglas and JuJu Smith-Schuster have unsurprisingly been ruled out for Week 6. Second-year receiver Tyquan Thornton, who was designated to return from a stint on injured reserve earlier this week, will make his season-debut, despite being listed as questionable due to a shoulder injury. Thornton has spent the first five games of 2023 on injured reserve. 

New England's offensive line continues to feel the injury effects, as starting guard Cole Strange (knee) and tackle Riley Reiff (knee) will be sidelined on Sunday. 

With just over an hour until the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, the Patriots and Raiders have released their lists of inactives:

PATRIOTS INACTIVES:

WR Demario Douglas

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

G Cole Strange

OL Riley Reiff

WR Kayshon Boutte

QB Will Grier

Bailey Zappe — Emergency Third Quarterback

RAIDERS INACTIVES:

CB Nate Hobbs

T Justin Herron

WR Kristian Wilkeson

S Christopher Smith

OLB Amari Burney

DT Nesta Jade Silvera

Aiden O’Connell - Emergency Third Quarterback

OCT. 14 PATRIOTS ACTIVATE WR TYQUAN THORNTON, ELEVATE JALEN REAGOR IN SERIES OF ROSTER MOVES - As actor Will Ferrell might say, the New England Patriots had themselves a “nice, little Saturday.”  

In addition to signing hybrid quarterback/receiver Malik Cunningham to a three-year deal, the Pats also made a series of roster moves in advance of their Week 6 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. 

Second-year receiver Tyquan Thornton, who missed the first five games of the season while on injured reserve (shoulder,) has been activated and is expected to play on Sunday. 

Following his selection by the Patriots in the second round (50th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Baylor product has been heralded as a potential deep threat due to his speed. However, Thornton saw the field sporadically throughout camp, due to a “soft-tissue” injury reducing his workload. He injured his shoulder during the second of two joint practices with the Green Bay Packers in August, forcing him to begin the season on IR. Though he has yet to make his 2023 debut, Thornton has 22 catches for 247 yards and two-touchdowns to his credit during his first season in New England. The 23-year-old is also a potential threat as a backfield carrier, having rushed three times for 16 yards and a score. 

The Pats also elevated receiver Jalen Reagor and defensive lineman Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. from their practice squad. 

Pharms is being elevated to the active roster for the third straight week — marking his final game for scout team eligbiiity. Last week against New Orleans, Pharms registered his first career NFL tackle.

Reagor is being elevated to the active roster for the second time this season. He was elevated prior to the game against Miami on Sept. 17 and dressed but did not play. Reagor joined the Patriots practice squad in Sept. after spending the past three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (2020-21) and Minnesota Vikings (2022.) The former first-round pick has played in 44 regular season games with 24 starts and has 72 receptions for 799 yards with four touchdowns, returned 12 kicks for 255 yards and 61 punts for 488 yards with one touchdown.

In order to accommodate the aforementioned roster moves, New England placed linebacker Matthew Judon (torn biceps tendon) and offensive lineman Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. (knee) on injured reserve.  

OCT. 12 CHANDLER JONES SOCIAL MEDIA POST MENTIONS PATRIOTS - The sad saga of former Patriots' star Chandler Jones took a turn toward New England this week when he mentioned a member of the organization in a social media post. Jones, who was cut by the Raiders last week after a series of seemingly unhinged comments including a conspiracy theory about Aaron Hernandez' death, a trip to a mental health facility and an arrest, posted to his Instagram on Wednesday a photo of him in white sneakers standing on a black rug and the caption:

Protect Robert Kraft, on my soul.

While Jones has attacked Raiders management in a series of social media posts, he apparently has retained his affection for the Patriots owner.

From 2012-15, Jones was one of New England’s most electrifying defenders. He was drafted by the Patriots out of Syracuse in the first round with the 21st overall selection in 2012 and blossomed into Pro Bowl player and was voted onto New England’s All-2010s Team.

OCT. 11 RAMS SIGN FORMER PATRIOTS LINEBACKER - The Los Angeles Rams signed former New England Patriots linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi to their practice on Wednesday.

Last January, Fatukasi signed a reserve/future contract with the Patriots before being cut during training camp in August.

Fatukasi, the former Rutgers Scarlet Knight, has already spent time with four different teams prior to joining the Rams' practice squad despite just being in his second season as a professional. After spending last season as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster, where he played in 13 games, he bounced around last offseason, spending time with the Denver Broncos, Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs, most recently before he was cut.

OCT. 11 FORMER PATS PLAYER SERGIO BROWN ARRESTED IN MEXICO - In a sad, but not surprising next chapter of a mystery involving Sergio Brown, the former Patriots safety has reportedly been arrested in Mexico in connection with the murder of his mother. 

After being seen partying in the wake of his mother's September death, Brown was deported from Mexico Tuesday, taken into custody near San Diego and will return to Illinois to face charges. After family members originally reported Sergio and his mother, Myrtle, missing, the 73-year-old mother was found dead Sept. 19 of homicide near her home in a suburb of Chicago.

Brown was listed as "missing" by police, but quickly surfaced in a social media video in which he referenced the 2003 children's movie, Finding Nemo.

“They ain’t never seen ‘Finding Nemo’?" Brown said in a video in which he breaks into laughter. "Just keep swimming!”

Brown was later seen in another video earlier this month partying and dancing with twerking women at a club in Tulum, Mexico - seemingly carefree as the investigation into his mother’s murder continued.

Brown went undrafted out of Notre Dame and signed with the Pats as a free agent in 2010. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills before retiring in 2016.

OCT. 6 PATRIOTS' DIVISION GETS EVEN TOUGHER WITH DOLPHINS TRADE - A tough AFC East just became more difficult - and unattainable? - for the Patriots, as the Dolphins' high-powered offense acquired another weapon. Miami on Friday morning traded for disgruntled Bears' receiver Chase Claypool.

The Dolphins are sending a 2025 6th-round draft pick to Chicago for Claypool and a '25 7th-rounder. The Bears gave up the 32nd pick in the 2023 draft to acquire Claypool from the Steelers.

Claypool made the NFL All-Rookie team in 2020 after catching 62 passes and nine touchdowns in Pittsburgh. His production, however, has dramatically declined and he caught only 18 passes in 10 games with Chicago.

He brings another talented weapon to Miami, which is already the NFL's highest-scoring team led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, running back Raheem Mostert and receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Wadde.

The 1-3 Patriots trail the Bills and Dolphins in the AFC East, with two games remaining against Buffalo and a rematch in Miami Oct. 29. The Pats held the Dolphins to only 24 points but lost in Week 2 in Foxboro.

With the addition of Claypool and the loss of star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, New England's path to being competitive within its division just became more complicated.