Overview
- The Patriots officially released and waived punter Bryce Baringer on Monday, Oct. 26, ending his three‑season run with the club.
- Baringer suffered a lower‑body injury in the preseason and was placed on injured reserve before the regular season began.
- New England elevated veteran Mitch Wishnowsky from the practice squad and has kept him as the team’s punter after solid early‑season production.
- Baringer will pass through waivers and would become a free agent if unclaimed, with the option to sign to a practice squad or rejoin the Patriots later if a need arises.
- The move highlights how the NFL’s limited number of injured‑reserve return designations forces teams to choose between holding an injured specialist and letting a healthy replacement keep the job, and it removes a reliable locker‑room presence who averaged roughly 47–48 yards per punt in his Patriots tenure.