Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel jokes that his reunion with former teammate Tom Brady will likely happen over Zoom as Brady returns to Gillette Stadium on Nov. 5, 2026 to call the Week 9 Patriots‑Packers matchup for FOX Sports. Vrabel, who played eight seasons alongside Brady (2001‑08) and won three Super Bowls, says the contract obliges him to catch up, hinting at a meeting at Rob Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame induction. The Patriots sit 5‑3 entering the game, while Brady transitions from record‑setting quarterback to broadcaster.
Friday’s NFL roster moves see the Bears put RB Zavier Scott on IR, while the Ravens shift gears by elevating LB Adisa Isaac, K Jake Moody and signing QB Austin Reed, then placing Tyler Huntley and Lamar Jackson on IR. The Chiefs add WR Bub Means, the Giants waive QB Jake Haener, and the Raiders swap TE Carter Runyon for WR Cody White. Practice squad signings span the Bills (Kader Kohou), Patriots (Kindle Vildor), Rams (Joshua Karty, David Long), Seahawks (Adrian Martinez, Jamie Sheriff) and more.
Brittany Mahroads reacts to quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ off‑field gesture after the Chiefs’ 28‑24 loss to Denver on Nov. 5, 2026. While Patrick posted a solid 30‑for‑41, 321‑yard, three‑TD performance, the team fell to 5‑2 following a controversial false‑start call that erased a potential game‑winning touchdown. Brittany, a former UT‑Tyler soccer star and co‑owner of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current, shared an Instagram story highlighting Patrick’s donation of Adidas Adizero EVO SL ATR shoes to the UT Tyler Patriots women’s soccer team and slammed the penalty call. The Chiefs look to bounce back against the New York Jets Sunday.
In Week 8 the Bills blitzed 64.5% of the Ravens’ passes, a strategy DC Jim Leonhard says was designed to disrupt Lamar Jackson, who left after the first play. The Bills later cut safety C.J. Gardner‑Johnson, opting for Damar Hamlin. Meanwhile, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn affirms Breece Hall remains the starter despite Braelon Allen’s strong fill‑in, and OC Frank Reich calls the two‑back situation a "great problem to have." Patriots OLB Harold Landry stays on the PUP list as he recovers from a knee injury, while WR A.J. Brown sits out Week 8 with a high‑ankle sprain and knee flare‑up. The notes cover roster moves and injury updates across the AFC.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry misses a second day of practice after a foot injury limited him to eight snaps in the Week 8 win over Miami. The veteran, who has logged 85 targets, 60 catches and 650 yards per season and posted 29 catches for 326 yards and two TDs this year, remains doubtful for the Week 9 home game against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 8. New England sits 5-3, second in the AFC East, and may need to explore other options if Henry isn’t cleared in time.
The Patriots head into Sunday’s 4:25 p.m. ET clash with the Packers missing four key players. Cornerback Marcus Jones joins RB TreVeyon Henderson, TE Hunter Henry and WR A.J. Brown on the non‑participant list, all sidelined by foot, illness, ankle/knee issues. Meanwhile, Green Bay lists TE Josh Whyle (concussion), OT Travis Glover (knee), C Sean Rhyan (ankle), LB Zaire Franklin (shin) and CB Keisean Nixon (shoulder) as out. Jones has logged over 81% of defensive snaps this season with 41 tackles, a sack and an interception. Patriots QB Drake Maye remains the only starter at full participation, boasting a 67.2% completion rate, 1,199 yards and 12 TD passes through October.
The Washington Commanders held a workout for punter Bryce Baringer on Thursday, according to the NFL transaction wire. Baringer, a former Patriots starter for three seasons, missed last summer after an injury and was released after spending his rookie deal on injured reserve. In 2025 he played all 17 games, registering 51 punts with a 47.4-yard average, four touchbacks and 21 punts inside the 20. The workout signals Washington’s interest in reviving his career.
The New England Patriots add depth to their secondary by signing cornerback Kindle Vildor to the practice squad, according to the NFL Transaction Wire. The 28‑year‑old, a 2020 fifth‑round pick of the Bears, has bounced around the league—stints with the Titans, Eagles, Lions (where he earned a $1.3 M one‑year deal for 2024), and Buccaneers—before joining New England in 2026. Vildor has already played five games for the Patriots, posting seven tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass defended and a forced fumble.
On his “Hustle Like You’re Broke” podcast, Michael Strahan reveals that winning Super Bowl XLII with Eli Manning in 2008 did more than end a championship drought—it kick‑started his TV career. Strahan says the 17‑14 upset over the previously unbeaten Patriots gave him the chance to fill in for Regis Philbin on “Live! with Regis and Kelly,” leading to a permanent co‑host role, two Daytime Emmys, and subsequent stints on Good Morning America and Fox NFL Sunday. He credits Manning’s MVP‑level performance and the championship bond for the life‑changing opportunities that followed.
The New England Patriots may enter their upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers without two offensive weapons. AJ Brown and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson skip Thursday's practice for a second consecutive day, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports on X. Their absence could limit the Patriots’ passing and rushing options heading into the matchup. Details remain limited, with updates expected as the situation develops.
The Patriots’ gamble of trading two first‑round picks for veteran WR A.J. Brown is now in doubt as a lingering knee injury sidelines him for a fourth straight practice and forced him out of the win in Miami. After just three games (nine catches, 101 yards) and a prior high‑ankle sprain, the knee issue—flagged during trade talks with the Eagles and the Rams—has resurfaced, prompting concerns from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Patriots EVP Eliot Wolf. With a $26 million dead‑cap hit looming, New England is unlikely to cut Brown now, but his short‑term availability and long‑term durability remain uncertain.
Greg Bedard and Nick Cattles preview the Patriots’ clash with the Green Bay Packers, weighing injury setbacks like Mack Hollins, Hunter Henry and TreVeyon Henderson—who may be battling mental‑health issues—against the team’s recent surge. They credit Drake Maye’s turnaround, highlighted by his AFC Offensive Player of the Month award, as the season’s biggest catalyst. The duo also discuss Rob Gronkowski’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction and the possible Pro Football Hall of Fame nods for Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick in 2027. After breaking down offensive and defensive matchups, they deliver score predictions and assess the coaching edge heading into the Sunday game at Gillette Stadium.
Bears offensive coordinator Press Taylor admits the loss of tight end Cole Kmet forces Chicago to craft a new TE game plan each week. Kmet’s season-ending knee injury came in the 30-24 win over New England (Week 7); he finished with 10 catches, 87 yards and a TD. With veteran Colston Loveland leading the position (33 receptions, 309 yards, 2 TDs) and rookie Sam Roush still developing (3 catches, 33 yards), Taylor says Roush’s progress is encouraging but the team needs him to step up quickly to fill the void.
Former NFL wide receiver Damoun Patterson, 31, is arrested in Florida on four felony counts after police link him to an alleged home invasion in Orlando, a stolen vehicle and a machete‑style knife. Charged with armed burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft auto and criminal mischief, Patterson was taken into custody in Daytona Beach early Thursday. The former Steelers, Buccaneers and Patriots player’s legal woes dominate the story, though he remains presumed innocent pending trial.
The New England Patriots re‑sign veteran cornerback Kindle Vildor to their 17‑man practice squad on Thursday, after releasing him from the active roster earlier in the week. Vildor, 28, has appeared in five games this season, posting seven tackles, a forced fumble, a pass deflection and 53 defensive snaps plus 32 on special teams. He previously earned a game ball after the Patriots’ 45‑17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and helped in the 29‑26 upset of the Buffalo Bills. The move fills the roster spot left by safety Elliott Davison and leaves the Patriots’ corner depth chart featuring Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones and others. The Packers visit Gillette Stadium Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Seattle’s backup quarterback Drew Lock says his elbow injury is “doing a lot better” and he’s ready to take reps in practice ahead of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Lock, who moved to third‑string after hurting his elbow in a rainy practice, expects to start after Sam Darnold was ruled out with a quadriceps injury following the Seahawks’ 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. Lock previously threw for 235 yards and three TDs in a Week 2 win over the Patriots and hopes to replicate that performance. Seattle sits 4‑4 in the NFC West, tied for second place.
In a pre‑game podcast, CLNS Media’s Taylor Kyles and SI’s Mike Kadlick break down the Patriots‑Packers showdown on Nov. 5, 2026. They focus on three key battles: Patriots’ interior defensive line versus the Packers’ interior offensive line, New England’s secondary—especially rookie Christian Gonzalez—against Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, and the Patriots’ pass rush against Green Bay’s aerial assault. The hosts also discuss the Packers’ use of Josh Jacobs, share a fun fact about Joe Fagnano, and deliver their game predictions before wrapping up.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 85, undergoes back surgery and will miss Saturday’s ceremony inducting tight end Rob Gronkowski into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. Kraft’s doctors have ordered him to stay off his feet, and no details on the procedure or recovery timeline have been released. The induction, scheduled for November 7 at Patriot Place Plaza, honors Gronkowski’s three Super Bowl titles, 7,861 receiving yards and 80 touchdowns with the team. Kraft, who has owned the franchise since 1994 and presided over six Super Bowl wins, expressed disappointment at missing the celebration, but the event proceeds as planned.
Colin Cowherd bluntly compares the Kansas City Chiefs’ resurgence to the New England Patriots’ historic dynasty. With the Chiefs sitting 5-2 in Week 9 after a 6-11 season, Cowherd highlights the Patriots’ 19-year run—17 division titles, 77% win rate, 13 conference championships and nine Super Bowls—versus Kansas City’s seven straight AFC Championship trips (2018‑24), five Super Bowl appearances and three Lombardi trophies. He argues the Chiefs still lag in consistency, citing a weak run game before Kenneth Walker and recent special‑teams struggles. The debate intensifies ahead of the Chiefs’ Week 9 home clash with the Jets.
Former Patriots star Rob Gronkowski addresses backlash after Election Day photos showed him near a Turning Point USA tent in New Hampshire. He says the images were misrepresented, noting he and girlfriend Camille Kostek simply greeted voters of all political views and did not endorse the conservative group. A Turning Point USA spokesperson confirmed Gronkowski had only walked past the tent. The incident sparked comments from local officials and GOP candidates, but Gronkowski emphasizes his neutrality ahead of his Patriots Hall of Fame induction on Nov. 7.
The Patriots offensive line issues could lead them to explore a trade for this veteran.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft undergoes back surgery and must miss Rob Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame induction on Nov. 7, as well as the team’s games against the Green Bay Packers (Nov. 8) and Detroit Lions in Munich (Nov. 15). Kraft, who celebrated drafting Gronkowski in 2010, told ESPN he’s “on injured reserve” after the procedure. Despite his absence, Gronkowski will be inducted as the 38th Patriots Hall of Famer, with a ceremony at Patriot Place Plaza and a halftime tribute during the Packers game. The article recaps Gronk’s back‑injury history, his Patriots stats (521 receptions, 79 TDs, three Super Bowls), and the scheduling around his FOX broadcasting duties.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame nominates Bill Belichick for a second time after the committee surprisingly passed him in his first year of eligibility. Announced Thursday, Belichick joins former coaches Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan as nominees. With a 69% win rate from 2000‑2023, six Super Bowl titles, 333 career wins (second all‑time) and a record 31 postseason victories, he is the favorite to earn the golden jacket at the 2027 class. The next decision comes on Nov. 17 when a finalist is chosen, with the final vote slated for early 2027. Patriots owner Robert Kraft also remains in the contributor pool.
The Patriots, sitting 5-3, prepare to host the Green Bay Packers Sunday at 4:25 PM ET while gearing up for Rob Gronkowski’s Hall of Fame induction this weekend. A new Athletic piece recounts Gronk’s quirky pre‑draft meeting with Bill Belichick—who, now coaching at North Carolina, declined to comment—sparking fans’ disappointment. Gronk says he’ll be emotional, expecting family, former teammates, and nostalgic memories. Despite the coach’s silence, the former tight end is set for a warm reception as New England honors his legendary tenure.
Micah Parsons, the Packers' four‑time All‑Pro pass rusher, returned to practice on Wednesday and kept training Thursday, marking a key milestone in his recovery from a torn ACL and meniscus suffered last season. While Green Bay isn’t expected to activate him for the upcoming game against the New England Patriots, the team is using the full 21‑day window to get him game‑ready, eyeing a possible debut in Week 12 versus the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 25. At 5‑3 and still in the NFC playoff hunt, Parsons’ return could boost Green Bay’s defense for the stretch run.