One Last Shot at the Roster
The New England Patriots are not wasting any time before the final roster cuts. The team visited with a former Cleveland Brown just days before the big deadline. On Thursday, veteran punter Jamie Gillan was worked out by the team, according to Pats Pulpit. This move happens right before the preseason finale against the Browns in Ohio. The clock is ticking on the 53-man roster deadline, which falls on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. New England needs a reliable leg for the upcoming season. They are looking at every option to get it done.
Gillan brings a heavy resume to the Foxboro practice field. He is a Scotland native who spent three years in Cleveland. He began his season by earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and Player of the Month accolades. He also earned PFWA All-Rookie honors during his first stint. Once he cleared waivers, he joined the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills. From 2022 until his release in March, he served as the New York Giants’ punter. That is a lot of NFL experience packed into a short career.
Numbers That Matter on the Field
The stats tell a clear story about what Gillan can do. Standing 107 games into his NFL run, he has posted solid numbers. He has averaged 45.2 yards per punt and 40.3 net yards per punt. This 6-foot-1, 207-pound left-footed specialist has recorded a career-long punt of 74 yards. He has seen 37.Twenty percent of his 436 total punts were downed inside the opposing 20. Only 6.4 percent have gone for touchbacks. Those are the kind of numbers that keep a team in the field position battle.
This workout comes after some rough luck for the current punter. When incumbent punter Bryce Baringer suffered an injury during the second preseason game, the Patriots asked rookie quarterback Behren Morton to play in relief. That is a messy situation any team wants to avoid. Matt Haack was signed by New England as a free agent for holding and punting duties before the summer finale in Ohio. Now they are testing Gillan to see if he can beat out Haack or add depth. The team needs a specialist who can handle the pressure of a real game.
What Comes Next for New England
Thursday’s kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET against a familiar foe. The Browns know exactly what Gillan brings to the table. He played for them for three years before moving on. The Patriots will watch his legs closely during this final game. They need to know if he can hang with the rest of the squad. The 53-man roster deadline will follow Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. This is the moment where the roster gets cut down to size.
Gillan is nicknamed “The Scottish Hammer” for a reason. His big leg and consistent placement make him a threat. If he performs well in this short window, he could secure a spot. The Patriots are looking for stability in the special teams unit. They cannot afford another injury to their punter. The move to bring him in shows they are taking no chances. Fans will know the answer by Sunday evening. The team needs a punter who can flip the field and help the defense. Gillan has the numbers to prove he can do just that.
