BREAKING: Patriots cut DE Darrell Taylor from practice squad after nine days
The New England Patriots just made a cold, clean move. The team released defensive end Darrell Taylor from the practice squad today, only nine days after signing him. The timing feels sharp, landing on the eve of game plan lock for the AFC Championship. Head coach Mike Vrabel did not dress it up. He framed the move as a fit and need decision, and a fast one.
The Patriots released Darrell Taylor from the practice squad today, January 23, 2026.
What happened and why it matters
New England added Taylor on January 14. He had been let go by Houston two days earlier so the Texans could activate a rookie safety. Taylor had only just come off injured reserve after an ankle issue that lingered through the fall. His Patriots stint lasted nine days, a sprint in NFL time.
This is playoff football, and Vrabel is trimming edges. Practice squad spots are not souvenirs, they are tools. If a player is not in the plan for Sunday, the Patriots often pivot. That is what today was. Roster optimization, pure and simple.
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The timing tells the story
The Patriots face Denver for the AFC title this weekend. Every look matters against a physical offense that wants to create angles and force missed tackles. New England’s defensive front thrives on communication and gap discipline. If the staff feels better about in-house options, or a different body type for the scout team, they move quickly. They just did.
Inside Vrabel’s approach
Vrabel’s answer today was blunt. He made it clear this was about role, availability, and the week’s plan. Translation, the Patriots want linemen who can plug into their call sheet right now. Practice squad churn is not chaos under Vrabel. It is a lever he pulls, often, to sharpen the look on the field that week.
New England’s defensive line room has leaned on versatility all year. Bigger ends who set the edge. Interior pieces who can loop and stunt. Edge depth, especially on obvious pass downs, is always a conversation. Taylor offers burst and a slicer’s get off. But the Patriots have favored familiarity late in the year, and they trust their core rotation.
In January, practice squad moves can be about the opponent’s style as much as the player.
What Taylor brings, and where he fits next
Taylor is 69 games into his career with 24.5 sacks and 7 forced fumbles. He wins with speed, a rip move, and effort to the whistle. He can stand up on the edge or put his hand down. His profile is that of a rotational rusher who spikes a drive with one big win around the corner.
He missed time with an ankle this season, then returned in January. That matters for teams that need instant juice. The tape in short bursts still shows a fast first step. He is a fit for third and long packages, wide alignments, and NASCAR fronts that chase quarterbacks off their spot.
Do not be surprised if a contender kicks the tires. Teams that lost an edge late in the year are scanning for fresh legs. Taylor now hits the market as a free agent who can sign to a 53 or a practice squad.
- Career line, 69 games, 13 starts, 118 tackles, 24.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles
- Texans IR on November 5, activated January 6
- Released by Houston on January 12, signed by New England January 14
- Released by New England today, January 23
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What this says about New England right now
This is the Patriots leaning into their identity under Vrabel. There is no patience for maybes in late January. If a player is not part of the weekend call sheet, the staff flips the spot to a look-team need, a special teams plug, or a contingency they believe in.
It also hints at confidence in the current edge mix. New England has won this winter by squeezing space on early downs, then sending heat with games up front. Expect more of that against Denver. The plan is to squeeze the pocket from the inside, rally outside, and force hurried throws. The Patriots trust their rush to come from cohesion, not a new face in the room.
Could Taylor land fast elsewhere
Yes. He is an easy midweek add for a team that wants:
- A situational rusher with proven sack production
- A veteran who understands sub packages and contain rules
- Emergency depth for a playoff run, with upside into camp
The market will sort itself quickly. The league knows what Taylor is, a spark plug off the edge who can help in a narrow role.
The bottom line
New England cut Darrell Taylor because the Patriots are building a game plan, not a scrapbook. Vrabel was direct about it, and the roster reflects it. Taylor now becomes one of the more interesting late January edge options, a player with real production and a fresh lane to a contender. The Patriots, meanwhile, roll into the AFC Championship with their front locked, their roles clear, and their message even clearer. Produce now, or the plan moves on.
