The New Patriots announced today changes to the practice squad. The Patriots signed DB Corey Ballentine, DL Cory Durden, DL Fabien Lovett and LB Mark Robinson to the practice squad and released CB Brandon Crossley, LB Cam Riley and TE Gee Scott Jr. from the practice squad.
Here is a breakdown of who is in and who is out.
CB Corey Ballentine: A veteran of seven NFL seasons, the 29-year-old Ballentine was a sixth-round pick in 2019 out of Washburn. He’s appeared in 69 games with 11 starts, playing for teams like the Giants, Jets, Lions, and Packers. He provides solid depth in the secondary and on special teams.
DL Cory Durden: The 26-year-old defensive lineman, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023, has spent time with the Lions, Rams, and Giants. He adds size and versatility to the defensive line rotation.
DL Fabien Lovett: An undrafted free agent from 2024, Lovett joins the Patriots after spending his rookie season on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad. The 25-year-old defensive tackle played his college career at Florida State.
LB Mark Robinson: A seventh-round pick by the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft, Robinson has played in 38 games with four starts over his three-year career. The 26-year-old primarily contributed on special teams in Pittsburgh and will likely fill a similar role for the Patriots.
Practice Squad Releases
To make room for the new additions, the Patriots released three players from their practice squad.
CB Brandon Crossley: The undrafted rookie cornerback from SMU was initially signed to the practice squad after being among the final roster cuts.
LB Cam Riley: The undrafted rookie linebacker from Florida State had a productive college career and had spent the preseason with the Patriots before being released and then signed back to the practice squad.
TE Gee Scott Jr.: Scott Jr., an undrafted tight end out of Ohio State, was also a recent addition to the practice squad before this move. Scott had a good camp and made plays at practice but he did not do enough to stick.