The ex-Patriots and ex-Texans in the fold for Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
Former New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio’s connections remain.
Many of whom can be found between the active roster, practice squad and reserve lists of the general manager’s Houston Texans. But the familiarity flows both directions heading into Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
Here’s a glance through the past and present players in the fold for the 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
HOUSTON
J.J. Taylor, running back — Taylor signed to the Texans’ practice squad last fall and was re-signed at the scout team’s formation in August after his release. The 5-foot-6 running back has been an elevation for three games in 2024, logging 21 yards from scrimmage through nine touches. Entering the NFL as part of the Patriots’ undrafted class of 2020, Taylor spent parts of three years between the active roster and practice squad before his final exit. The 26-year-old Arizona product saw action in 12 games over that span. He tallied 156 rushing yards, 20 receiving yards, 123 return yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Dalton Keene, tight end — Placed on injured reserve following a torn ACL in August, Keene had arrived in Houston the previous training camp. He spent 2023 on the practice squad and served as an elevation for one game. Selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2020 class, the hybrid fullback out of Virginia Tech played in six games as a rookie before landing on injured reserve. Across 140 offensive snaps came three catches for 16 yards. Keene then spent all of 2021 on injured reserve following knee surgery and was waived at the 80-man roster deadline in 2022. The 25-year-old has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos.
Shaq Mason, guard — A two-time Super Bowl champion, Mason’s run with the Patriots began at pick No. 131 overall in the 2015 draft. A five-year, $50 million contract extension followed for the road-grading guard out of Georgia Tech. He earned an honorable mention as part of the franchise’s All-Dynasty team and started 111 games between his regular seasons and postseasons in Foxborough. In exchange for a fifth-rounder, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired Mason in 2022. The 31-year-old was then traded to Houston the next offseason and signed a three-year, $36 million extension. He has started every game since then.
Arlington Hambright, guard — The Texans added Hambright to the practice squad one week into September. The 28-year-old offensive lineman spent the previous two campaigns between the practice squad and active roster of the Indianapolis Colts. Originally landing with the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2020 class, Hambright appeared in nine games, starting one, for the organization that drafted him. He then headed to Foxborough on futures contract in 2022. Work at left tackle, left guard and right guard followed in preseason action before he was waived at the 53-man deadline that summer.
Myles Bryant, cornerback — The Texans agreed to terms with the 26-year-old Bryant in March. Arriving in Foxborough as an undrafted free agent out of Washington in 2020, he went on to appear in 55 games, including 17 starts, while with the Patriots. The versatile defensive back’s run spanned 200 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to go with four interceptions and work as a punt returner. After being tendered at the right-of-first-refusal level of $2.627 million in restricted free agency, Bryant saw 74.8 percent of the snaps on defense, 20.9 percent of the snaps on special teams and finished with a career-high 77 tackles in 2023.
D’Angelo Ross, cornerback — Via Fullerton College and New Mexico, Ross joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2019. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve and all of his second season on the practice squad, the corner became a call-up for four consecutive games to end 2021. He recorded his first start and three tackles before departing on a futures contract with the Miami Dolphins. The 27-year-old then signed with Houston’s practice squad midway through the 2022 campaign. A recent promotion to the 53-man roster, his Texans tenure has spanned 17 games and 10 tackles.
NEW ENGLAND
Alex Austin, cornerback — The Patriots placed Austin on injured reserve at the end of September after he had been ruled out due to an ankle issue. The 23-year-old cornerback out of Oregon State was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft. Claimed off waivers at the end of his rookie preseason, he debuted as a Texan and saw five snaps on defense before becoming a free agent last November. Austin signed to the 53-man roster in Foxborough soon after. His Patriots stay has included one start across eight contests, plus one interception and nine tackles.
Mark Perry, safety — Perry went undrafted in the spring after appearing in 53 games between his time at Colorado and Texas Christian. The 23-year-old safety spent his rookie training camp with the Dolphins before being waived at the league’s cutdown deadline. From there, he turned the calendar to September on the practice squad in Houston. His release after the first week regular season led to a workout in Foxborough. He subsequently signed to the practice squad and continues to reside there.
Joey Slye, kicker — Slye has converted on 9-of-11 field goals and 5-of-5 extra points since outlasting sophomore specialist Chad Ryland. The May arrival, who set the franchise record from 63 yards out in September, stands on his seventh NFL team. Count the Texans among the previous stops for a Virginia Tech product who went undrafted in 2018. Slye signed to Houston’s scout team at the start of the 2021 campaign and served as an elevation for three contests in the absence of injured incumbent Ka’imi Fairbairn. The 28-year-old went 4-of-5 on field goals and 7-of-8 on extra points before being waived.