Patriots Lose Practice Squadder As Vikings Reportedly Sign Edge Rusher

The New England Patriots are always ready to adjust the roster and head coach Bill Belichick is expected to make a few more adjustments by the end of the 2021 NFL season. The Patriots have just lost a practice squadder to the Minnesota Vikings. Tom Pelissero from NFL media was among the first to confirm the transaction.

Edge rusher Tashawn Bower is leaving the Patriots to join Minnesota’s active roster. This is actually a big reunion for the outside linebacker. The 26-year-old entered the NFL with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He measures at 6 feet 5, 250 pounds. During his first stint with the Vikings, Bower saw action in seven games and recorded seven tackles. The Vikings waived him from the non-football injury list after tearing his Achilles.

Bower joined the Patriots practice unit in 2019.

Head coach Bill Belichick used him as a standard elevation and also as a member of his 53-man roster. Bower saw action in nine games with the team. He had three starts, 14 tackles, one batted pass, and another career sack against former Vikings signal-caller Case Keenum.

Patriots lost the practice squadder following two standard elevations

A reunion: The #Vikings are signing OLB/DE Tashawn Bower off the #Patriots practice squad, source said.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 24, 2021

In 2021, the Patriots elevated Bower on two occasions. They have a few injured players and other situations, so Bower had to step in as a replacement. In his two elevations, Bower played 32 snaps along the defensive edges this year.

Bower is out and the Patriots have three openings on the practice unit. The team signed punter Corliss Waitman on Tuesday. Is that it? Maybe Belichick will make a few more moves next week. Players can suffer injuries and this may impact the entire gameplan.

The Patriots have a really good game at the moment and they dominate their division. The Buffalo Bills lost the throne to Belichick’s squad and NFL analysts believe that the team has a chance to make the playoffs this year. Rookie Mac Jones and his teammates have built excellent connection and this chemistry helps them win games. They are in the middle of a winning streak at the moment.