The Pats schedule rarely tells the full story on its own. Roster moves do, especially in Week 1, when one elevation can reveal how a team wants to manage depth, special teams, and the smallest edges on game day. On this list, the New England Patriots elevated two players from the practice squad: RB Lan Larison and P Mitch Wishnowsky.
That is a simple transaction on paper, but it carries real meaning. Larison gives New England another running back option after his unusual path through the roster, while Wishnowsky brings veteran stability at punter. In a league where the margins are often decided by field position and availability, those are not minor details.
What the Patriots did
Larison’s path has already included several stops in a short span. New England first signed the 5-foot-11, 209-pounder as a rookie free agent out of UC Davis on May 9, 2025. He was released on Aug. 30, then signed to the practice squad on Sept. 1. Now he is back on the active roster for Week 1.
Wishnowsky’s route has been even more eventful. The 2019 fourth-round pick by San Francisco out of Utah entered the NFL with seven seasons of experience on his résumé and 105 regular season games played. Before arriving in New England, he was released by San Francisco on May 28, 2025, then spent time with Washington and Buffalo before the Patriots signed him to the practice squad on Aug. 31, 2026. He now joins the active roster as the team’s punter.
Why it matters for Week 1
Elevating a rookie running back and a veteran punter suggests New England is trying to keep the active roster flexible without sacrificing reliability. Larison adds depth at a position that can change quickly during a game, while Wishnowsky helps secure the punting operation for a matchup that will likely be shaped by field position as much as by explosive plays.
That is what makes this move relevant to the Pats schedule rather than just the transaction wire. Early in the season, teams are still figuring out how much they can trust the bottom of the roster. New England’s answer here is to lean on a young back with upside and a specialist with real NFL mileage. It is not a dramatic headline, but it is the kind of decision that can quietly influence a Sunday.
And because the Patriots’ roster has already gone through a long series of signings, releases, waivers, trades, and injured reserve moves, these elevations fit the larger picture. Week 1 is not just about the starting lineup. It is about whether the team has built enough depth to survive the parts of the game that usually get remembered only when they go wrong.
