The New England Patriots moved quickly to fill a 53-man roster spot opened by the late release of veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, claiming rookie defensive tackle Eric Gregory off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of Labor Day weekend.
Gregory, 24, signed with Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent in May. The Arkansas product stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 319 pounds. He was waived after making the Bengals’ initial active roster, but he logged preseason experience with four quarterback pressures on 96 defensive snaps and appeared in 61 games (44 starts) during his college career in the SEC, posting 135 tackles and 9.5 sacks along with three passes defensed and one interception.
In other moves, the Patriots signed offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. to the practice squad and released guard Jack Conley to clear space among the 17 practice-squad spots. Munford, 25, had been waived by the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday. A seventh-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Ohio State, Munford has appeared in 46 games with 18 starts, totaling 1,088 offensive snaps. The 6-foot-6, 328-pound lineman earned first-team All-Big Ten honors twice in college, and ESPN’s Mike Reiss highlighted him as a player to monitor.
Conley, 24, joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in May. He spent time at right guard, left guard, right tackle and even as an eligible tight end during his stint at Boston College, where he started all 12 games in 2024 and earned All-ACC honorable mention. The 6-foot-7, 333-pound lineman signed with the Patriots’ practice squad after clearing waivers following his rookie preseason.
These moves reflect the Patriots’ ongoing roster tinkering as they balance depth across the offensive line and strengthen interior and edge depth on defense ahead of the early season. Munford’s versatility could provide critical swing-tackle and guard options, while Gregory adds young interior depth on defense as the team continues to refine its 53-man roster.