Patriots’ K.J. Britt and Elliott Davison return to practice squad after Week 5 standard elevations

The New England Patriots returned two players to their practice squad after both K.J. Britt and Elliott Davison completed standard elevations for Week 5 action versus the Las Vegas Raiders. Under the NFL’s standard elevation process, players can be moved to the active roster for a specific game without a permanent roster transaction, then revert back after the contest unless the team makes a new move.

According to reporting from Yahoo Sports, Britt and Davison were elevated for the Patriots’ game against Las Vegas and then officially reverted to the practice squad on Monday. The reversion matters for roster management because it preserves a spot on the active roster for other players while maintaining depth in practice preparation.

For the Patriots, the decision reflects how teams typically use the standard elevation window during a long season. Practice-squad players get opportunities to contribute in games, and the active roster benefits from that depth package while the team evaluates matchups and performance. After the game, reverted players resume their practice-squad roles, continuing to work on game plans and earning chances to be elevated again.

Britt and Davison’s Week 5 cycle also highlights the practical difference between standard elevations and longer-term roster changes. A standard elevation is temporary by design, and a reversion to the practice squad generally indicates the team is not, at that moment, committing to a full active-roster stay for the players beyond the specific game window.

The timing is also notable because NFL teams often adjust their personnel in waves, particularly after a completed week of games. Reverting players on Monday is part of the normal procedural rhythm following Sunday matchups, when teams confirm which players remain on active rosters, which return to the practice squad, and which faces require further attention ahead of the next opponent.

What to watch next for New England is whether Britt and Davison are elevated again in subsequent weeks, either for similar matchup needs or because of broader changes in the active roster. Another factor is how the Patriots distribute practice reps during the week, since practice-squad players frequently build their case for another elevation through performance in preparation and special teams availability.

For Las Vegas, the Week 5 game only tells part of the story about how players are used on either side of a matchup. But for New England, the reversion confirms that both Britt and Davison remain in the mix as practice-squad options, with the team able to call them up again if it chooses to do so under the standard elevation rules.