New England Patriots release TE Tanner Arkin, LB Jose Ramirez
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots announced on Nov. 9, 2026, that they have released rookie tight end Tanner Arkin from the 53-man roster and linebacker Jose Ramirez from the practice squad. The moves were posted by the team as part of its official transaction update. No immediate additions were announced in the release.
Arkin, 23, signed with New England as a rookie free agent from Illinois on May 8, 2026. The 6-foot-4, 262-pound tight end appeared in five games for the Patriots this season and made two starts in a two-tight end alignment. He spent two seasons at Colorado State before transferring to Illinois for his final three collegiate seasons.
Ramirez, 27, originally joined the Patriots’ practice squad on Sept. 1, 2026, and has spent time on both the practice squad and the 53-man roster this season. The 6-foot-2, 252-pound linebacker played in two games for New England on defense and on special teams. Ramirez entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan; he spent his rookie season on Tampa Bay’s practice squad, made Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster in 2024 and played in four games, spent time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 2025, and signed a futures contract with Philadelphia on Jan. 15, 2026 before being released on Aug. 30, 2026.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Releasing Arkin removes a depth piece at tight end who had logged two starts and provided snaps in a two-tight end alignment. Ramirez’s departure strips a rotational linebacker and a special-teams contributor from the organization’s depth chart, given his two-game appearance total with New England. Both moves open roster spots that the Patriots can use to add veteran help or to elevate other players from the practice squad as the team manages its roster during the season. The transactions reflect routine roster churn as the Patriots look to balance position depth and special-teams needs moving forward.