The New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in their preseason Week 2 game on Saturday, by a 24-21 score.
The win raised the Patriots’ preseason record to 1-0-1 after a Week 1 tie with the Indianapolis Colts, with a 13-13 tally.
After the Eagles game, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel announced that the Patriots would sign a new punter to fill in for the injured Bryce Baringer. Later Monday morning, news broke about that signing.
That signee is Matt Haack, a veteran last seen with the Washington Commanders this summer. PatriotsWire reporter Sophie Weller first reported the move, with ESPN’s Mike Reiss confirming Haack’s arrival shortly afterward.
“It’s serious enough that we will probably have to sign a new punter,” Vrabel said of Baringer’s injury, according to Boston.com.
Vrabel did not detail the injury itself. He said Baringer “wasn’t feeling great” after his first two punts against Philadelphia, prompting New England to turn to third-string quarterback Behren Morton for the rest of the punting duties rather than risk further damage to Baringer or kicker Andy Borregales. Morton, who has prep and college punting experience, averaged 44.3 yards on three attempts in relief.
Bryce Baringer’s Injury and Patriots’ Punting Plans
GettyReported new Patriots punter Matt Haack while with the Miami Dolphins.
Baringer, a sixth-round pick out of Michigan State in the 2023 NFL Draft, has started every game at punter for New England since, appearing in 51 straight regular-season contests. He set a franchise single-season record with a 49.8-yard average in 2024, the fourth-best mark in the NFL that year.
Last season Baringer punted a career-low 51 times as New England’s offense finished second in the league in scoring, producing a 47.4-yard average and pushing his career totals to 219 punts for 10,500 yards. He also served as holder on field goals and extra points, a role Haack is expected to inherit as well.
The mysterious injury complicates a contract year for Baringer, whose deal expires after this season. Any extended absence would leave him fighting to reclaim his job while facing free agency in 2027.
Baringer arrived in New England as one of the most decorated punters in Michigan State history, owning the school’s career and single-season average records before going in the sixth round at 192nd overall. He was a first-team All-America and a Ray Guy Award finalist in his final college season.
Vrabel left open the possibility Morton could get more chances behind Baringer down the line, though the rookie punting audition remains a work in progress.
“His plus-50 needs to improve and then we need some more hangtime,” Vrabel was quoted as saying of Morton’s fill-in outing. New England could still scan the market further, given the 49ers recently moved on from Thomas Morstead and the Giants released Jamie Gillan back in March.
Matt Haack’s Path to New England
Haack, an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State who broke into the league with Miami in 2017, enters his ninth NFL season with stops in Buffalo, Indianapolis, Cleveland, New York and Arizona along the way. He punted 25 times for the Cardinals last season, averaging 51.3 yards per punt on the year.
His career totals include 478 punts for more than 21,500 yards and a 45.0-yard average, giving New England a proven veteran to steady the position.
The Patriots close their preseason Thursday in Cleveland, with the 53-man roster cutdown looming Sunday. New England opens its regular season in a little more than two weeks with a rematch of Super Bowl LX against Seattle, leaving a tight window to get Haack integrated before games begin to matter.
Patriots to Announce Decision on 32-Year-Old Punter After Bryce Baringer Injury