The New England Patriots must trim their 75-man roster down to 53 players by Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, but Bill Belichick will get out in front of the game by making cuts throughout the day.
Despite having 75 players on their 53-man roster, the Patriots only need to make 20 releases because defensive end Rob Ninkovich and quarterback Tom Brady have been suspended four games apiece.
The Patriots’ toughest cuts will come at running back, tight end, defensive tackle and cornerback.
Here are the Patriots’ moves:
— The Patriots officially announced the releases of 20 players: offensive linemen Chris Barker and Jon Halapio, wide receivers Aaron Dobson, DeAndre Carter, Chris Harper, Keshawn Martin and Devin Lucien, running backs Tyler Gaffney and Joey Iosefa, defensive linemen Geneo Grissom, Markus Kuhn, Woodrow Hamilton and Joe Vellano, linebackers Rufus Johnson, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Kevin Snyder, cornerbacks Darryl Roberts and Cre’Von LeBlanc, safety Vinnie Sunseri and tight end Bryce Williams.
— The Patriots also released pass rusher Geneo Grissom, according to CSNNE.com’s Tom E. Curran. Two more cuts.
— Pass rusher Rufus Johnson won’t be on the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported. The Patriots must make three more roster moves.
— The Patriots will release WR Devin Lucien, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported. Lucien was a 2016 seventh-round pick. It appears the Patriots will keep just four wide receivers: Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell, plus Matthew Slater.
— The Patriots released guard Chris Barker, a source told NESN.com. This bodes well for rookie Ted Karras’ chances of making the roster. Five more cuts to go.
— Safety Vinnie Sunseri was cut, a source told the Boston Herald. The Patriots have six more moves to make to get down to 53 players.
— The Patriots released CB Darryl Roberts and WR Chris Harper, a source told ESPN’s Field Yates. As long as the Patriots keep five CBs, it appears Jonathan Jones has won the final job. The Patriots have seven more cuts to go.
— G Jon Halapio announced he’s been released on Twitter.
The Patriots must make nine more cuts.
— The Patriots waived RB/FB Joey Iosefa, a source told NESN.com. LeGarrette Blount, James White, D.J. Foster, Brandon Bolden and James Develin are left at running back. The Patriots have 10 more cuts to go.
— The Patriots released DT Woodrow Hamilton, a source told NESN.com. Hamilton is a candidate for the practice squad if he clears waivers. The Patriots must release 11 more players.
— Running back Tyler Gaffney, wide receiver Keshawn Martin and defensive tackle Markus Kuhn have been released, according to CSNNE.com’s Tom E. Curran.
The Patriots are left with just Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, Matthew Slater and Devin Lucien at wide receiver. They’ll likely add a receiver or two off the waiver wire. Martin had a tough time staying healthy in his tenure with the Patriots.
The Kuhn and Gaffney cuts are good signs for DT Anthony Johnson and RB D.J. Foster.
— The Patriots will waive/injured linebacker Kevin Snyder, according to a source. White hurt his hand against the New York Giants on Thursday and had hand surgery Friday. He’ll likely land on injured reserve after passing through waivers. The Patriots must make 15 more moves to get down to 53 players.
— The Patriots will release 2016 sixth-round pick LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, a source told ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss. The release is a surprise, since he had been used heavily on special teams and as a coverage specialist on defense. He could be primed for the practice squad. He’s one of the best athletes on the team.
— The Patriots released wide receivers Aaron Dobson and DeAndre Carter, sources confirm reports by WEEI.com and the Boston Herald.
Those cuts increase the chances Keshawn Martin, who suffered a lower leg injury Thursday, makes the roster. The Patriots also have Chris Harper and Devin Lucien fighting for roster spots.
— The Patriots released cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc, a source told NESN.com. The news first was reported by the Boston Herald. Other teams could be interested in claming LeBlanc off waivers. If he passes through waivers, he’s likely to land on the Patriots’ practice squad.
LeBlanc’s release increases the chances of Jonathan Jones or Darryl Roberts making the 53-man roster. The Patriots have 19 more moves before they reach their 53-man limit.
Thumbnail photo via Robert Duyos/USA TODAY Sports Images
