The Patriots added depth at two key positions Saturday, elevating defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III and wide receiver Jeremiah Webb from the practice squad.
Those transactions come on the heels of the Patriots ruling defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot) out and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) questionable for Sunday night’s wild-card round matchup with the Chargers.
This is the fourth game Taylor will be elevated from the practice squad. Head coach Mike Vrabel singled Taylor out Friday when talking about contributions players on the practice squad have made this season.
“Those guys work extremely hard,” Vrabel said. “They come in, and we try to create these practices and situations on Thursday where they can go and practice, they can play and they can be evaluated, and then once we feel like they can help us, then we make sure that they know the information.
“We’ve seen Leonard Taylor go out there, make contributions and play. And so, I’m always in favor of that when guys earn it, that they get what they earn, and then when they get opportunities that they take advantage of them, and then they earn more opportunity.”
This will be Webb’s first practice squad elevation of the season. The undrafted wide receiver out of South Alabama played well in the preseason, catching six passes on nine targets for 80 yards and a touchdown. The 5-foot-11, 198-pound wideout also returned two kicks for 82 yards and brought back two punts for 34 yards.
Taylor adds depth behind Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden and Eric Gregory. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Miami with the Jets in 2024. After spending the entire 2024 season on the Jets’ 53-man roster, Taylor was waived Oct. 14 this year. He was signed to the Patriots’ practice squad two days later. He had eight tackles and one QB hit in three games with the Patriots this season.
Webb adds depth in case Boutte can’t play due to his hamstring injury. The Patriots also have Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas and fellow rookies Kyle Williams and Efton Chism on the 53-man roster.
Boutte missed two games earlier this season due to a hamstring injury. He also missed one game with a concussion.
If Boutte can play, the Patriots could still rule Webb inactive for Sunday’s game despite his elevation.