With final cut-downs happening today, the Patriots will trim the roster down to 53 players. After that, they can sign 10 players to the practice squad. Bill Belichick and the Patriots use the practice squad not only as part of the scout team each week, but also as depth in case injuries strike the active roster. The Patriots are currently dealing with injuries at OT, OG, WR, and RB, so I do expect the Patriots to have someone at those particular positions there. In order to sign a player to the practice squad, that player must clear release waivers. Claiming a player on waivers puts them on the active roster, not the practice squad.
Miguel Benzan (aka patscap) does a good job of breaking down how the practice squad rules work and who is eligible. Six of the ten spots are required to have a player with less than one accrued season towards free agency. In order to get one year towards FA credit, the player needs to be on the active roster or injured reserve for at least six games. The easiest example that fits are rookies that get cut, for example let's use V'Angelo Bentley. The second set of players eligible for the practice squad are players that have accrued up to two years of service time, but have appeared in less than 9 games in any of the two seasons. That makes Cameron Fleming and Tyler Gaffney as examples of players who are practice squad eligible.
Miguel also lists members of the Patriots roster and previous roster cuts who are eligible for the practice squad.
Here is the list of all practice squad eligible Patriots on the team’s current roster and the reason why they are eligible.
* Malcolm Butler (Two accrued seasons)
* James Develin (Two accrued seasons with at least 9 games on 46-man roster)
* Cameron Fleming (Two accrued seasons)
* Jimmy Garoppolo (Two accrued seasons)
* James White (Two accrued seasons)
* Malcom Brown (One accrued season)
* Jordan Richards (One accrued season)
* Geneo Grissom (One accrued season)
* Trey Flowers (One accrued season)
* Shaq Mason (One accrued season)
* Joe Cardona (One accrued season)
* Chris Harper (No accrued seasons with at least 9 games on 46-man roster)
* Chris Barker (No accrued seasons with at least 9 games on 46-man roster)
* David Andrews (One accrued season)
* A.J. Derby (No accrued seasons with at least 9 games on 46-man roster)
* Brandon King (One accrued season)
* Anthony Johnson (One accrued season)
* Rufus Johnson (One practice squad season)
* Dion Lewis (two accrued seasons)
* Joe Vellano (one accrued season. One Practice squad season)
* DeAndre Carter (No accrued seasons with at least 9 games on 46-man roster)
* Tyler Gaffney (No accrued seasons with at least 9 games on 46-man roster)
* Cyrus Jones (rookie)
* Joe Thuney (rookie)
* Jacoby Brissett (rookie)
* Vincent Valentine (rookie)
* Malcolm Mitchell (rookie)
* Kamu Grugier-Hill (rookie)
* Ted Karras (rookie)
* Elandon Roberts (rookie)
* Devin Lucien
* Creven LeBlance (rookie)
* DJ Foster (rookie)
* Woodrow Hamilton (rookie)
* Jonathan Jones (rookie)
* Kevin Snyder (rookie)
* Joey Iosefa (no accrued seasons)
* Bryce Williams (rookie)
* Jon Halapio (no accrued seasons)
* Vinnie Sunseri (no accrued seasons with at least 9 games on 46-man roster)Players waived by Patriots in 2016 who are eligible to be placed on the practice squad
* James Vaughters (no accrued seasons)
* V’Angelo Bentley (rookie)
* Rashaan Melvin (no accrued seasons)
* Dominique Easley (two accrued seasons)
* Chris Jones (two accrued seasons)
* Darius Fleming (one accrued season)
* Montee Ball (two accrued seasons)
* J.J. Worton (no accrued seasons)
* Tony Steward (One accrued season)
* CJ Johnson (rookie)
* Stephen Scheu (rookie)
* Kyler Kerbyson (rookie)
* Brock Vereen (Waived)
* Byron Stork (One accrued season)
* Keavon Milton (One accrued season)
* Cedric Thompson (No accrued seasons with at least 9 games on 46-man roster)Current inactive Patriots ineligible to be placed on the practice squad
* Michael Williams (Injured Reserve)
* Tre Jackson (Reserve PUP)