Patriots claim TE Cameron Latu, add linebacker Darius Muasau while placing Bryce Baringer and Khalil Jacobs on injured reserve

The New England Patriots announced a set of roster transactions on Monday that included two waiver claims and multiple roster resets. The club claimed tight end Cameron Latu off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles and linebacker Darius Muasau off waivers from the New York Giants, additions that address depth needs at two positions closely tied to early-down package flexibility.

In the same announcement, the Patriots released linebacker K.J. Britt and center Ben Brown. Those cuts indicate New England is continuing to narrow its player pool and refine its depth chart, particularly in areas where teams often rotate multiple options through training camp and the preseason.

New England also made two injury-reserve placements. The Patriots placed punter Bryce Baringer on injured reserve, as well as linebacker Khalil Jacobs. IR designations can have a major downstream effect on weekly roster construction, especially for punting, where teams typically require a reliable replacement to avoid disrupting field-position planning.

From a roster-building standpoint, the waiver claims stand out because they bring in players already exposed to NFL coaching systems and game-day expectations through prior team assignments. By claiming Latu and Muasau, the Patriots took the next step in integrating them into their own scheme, rather than waiting for free-agent opportunities to develop over time.

The tight end role in particular can swing quickly between blocking-centric assignments and pass-game usage, and New England’s decision to add Latu suggests the team wanted more competition or options on the edge of its receiving and run-support formations. Similarly, linebackers remain a premium as defensive fronts and coverage packages are adjusted for each opponent.

There is no additional detail in the announcement about why the released players were moved on, or about the severity or timeline associated with the IR placements. With that limited information, the most practical takeaway is organizational: New England is actively reshaping its depth chart at positions that can influence snap counts and special-teams availability.

What to watch next is whether the Patriots fill the punter vacancy created by the Baringer IR move with an active roster addition, practice-squad option, or another internal solution. On defense, the team’s claimed linebacker and tight end additions will be monitored for how they fit into existing depth roles and special-teams assignments as the regular-season roster solidifies.