The New England Patriots made several roster moves on Tuesday afternoon after suffering two unfortunate injuries in Week 13. Both Will Campbell and Jared Wilson are injured indefinitely. So, New England entered the week needing offensive line reinforcements as soon as possible. The left side of the line has been a major strength this season. Losing two starters opened a big hole on their roster.
To address that need, the Patriots reached an agreement with Thayer Munford Jr., signing him off the Cleveland Browns practice squad. Munford is only 25 years old. He carries significant starting experience. The former seventh-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders appeared in 18 games with the organization. He started six of those contests and logged more than 1,000 snaps across multiple positions. Drafted out of Ohio State, he was known for his strength, toughness, and ability to anchor against power rushers during his college career.
Munford originally spent time with New England during roster cutdown week in August. He briefly signed with the Patriots’ practice squad before the season began. The Browns then signed him to their active roster. After a short stint in Cleveland, he returned to the team’s practice squad. He spent most of the season there prior to this week’s move. For the Patriots, his familiarity with the system and his positional flexibility made him an appealing option. The team is navigating multiple injuries up front.
Making room for Munford required a corresponding move. Unfortunately, the Patriots placed cornerback Alex Austin on injured reserve. The 24-year old made meaningful progress in his development last season and earned valuable snaps down the stretch. This year, his role had decreased slightly, but he remained a reliable depth option in the boundary. A former Bills and Texans defensive back, Austin has appeared in 26 career games. He started six of them for the Patriots. Across those appearances, he recorded 31 tackles and one interception. Losing him removes depth from a secondary that has already dealt with injuries at various points in the season.
New England also brought back a familiar face by signing guard Bill Murray to the practice squad. Murray has a long history with the organization. He spent three seasons on the Patriots’ practice squad after entering the league as an undrafted free agent. The 28-year old earned a few elevations to the active roster during his first run with New England before departing and joining the Chicago Bears. His return gives the Patriots another interior lineman with experience in their system. This becomes especially valuable late in the season as injuries accumulate.
To make room for Murray, the Patriots released running back Jonathan Ward from the practice squad. Ward is a veteran who has spent time with several teams, including the Cardinals, Giants, Jets, Titans, and Steelers. He has now been released by New England for the second time. The 28-year entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He has been a steady presence on multiple practice squads throughout his career.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 19-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Ben.BelfordPeltzman@gmail.com with any inquires.
