Patriots to Release Bryce Baringer: Mitch Wishnowsky Keeps Punter Job

The New England Patriots are moving on from punter Bryce Baringer. NFL.com reported Monday that New England is releasing the fourth-year specialist, who has not appeared in a game this season while on injured reserve. The decision turns what began as an injury replacement into a clear depth-chart handoff: Mitch Wishnowsky is the Patriots’ punter going forward.

For fantasy managers, this is not a skill-position transaction. Its value is in the hidden details of game script, field position and the operation around kicker Andy Borregales. Wishnowsky has already handled the job for seven weeks, so New England is choosing continuity rather than introducing a new holder and punter before Week 8.

What the Patriots changed

The NFL’s Monday news roundup says Baringer is being released and notes that he has not played in 2026. New England placed Baringer on injured reserve before the opener after a preseason issue, then brought Wishnowsky up from the practice squad to cover the position.

The temporary arrangement became more permanent on September 22, when the Patriots signed Wishnowsky to the 53-man roster. Releasing Baringer removes the possibility of a midseason competition and confirms that the club is comfortable with the veteran replacement.

Baringer leaves with an established NFL résumé. The Patriots’ official player page credits him with five career punts of at least 70 yards and back-to-back seasons with at least 30 punts downed inside the 20. This is therefore a choice based on the current roster and 2026 operation, not evidence that Baringer lacks an NFL-caliber leg.

Why Mitch Wishnowsky owns the job

Wishnowsky’s official Patriots profile lists 22 punts this season, a 47.1-yard gross average, a long of 73 and 10 punts inside the 20. He also has seven previous NFL seasons behind him, giving New England a veteran option instead of a weekly emergency solution.

The first game offered an early proof point. New England’s official Week 1 notes recorded three of Wishnowsky’s four punts inside the 20. By late September, he had a 73-yard punt on his résumé with the team, and the Patriots had already moved him from the practice squad to the active roster.

The holding role matters as much as the gross average. Wishnowsky has been the holder for Borregales, so keeping the same snap-hold-kick operation avoids a needless timing change. Specialists work in connected units; a roster move at punter can affect field goals and extra points even when the kicker does not change. Here, the Patriots are preserving the established operation.

Game and fantasy football impact

The immediate football impact is stability. New England can prepare for Week 8 without splitting practice work between punters or changing the placement unit. Wishnowsky’s inside-the-20 rate — 10 on 22 punts — has helped the Patriots make opponents drive long fields, an important margin for a 4-3 team that has played four one-score games.

For standard fantasy leagues, there is no direct add or drop. Borregales keeps the same holder, so this transaction does not create a new reason to downgrade him. The Patriots D/ST gets a small contextual benefit from established punting and field-position execution, but fantasy managers should still make that lineup decision based primarily on opponent, pressure rate, takeaways and expected scoring.

New England visits Miami at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 1, according to the Patriots’ official schedule. That matchup makes field position relevant, but this roster move should not be mistaken for a major change to the Patriots’ offensive outlook.

What comes next for Baringer and New England

The next administrative step is the corresponding roster opening. New England can use it on another position once the release is processed, and Baringer becomes available to teams seeking a proven punter. His career production should create interest, although his recent health and readiness will matter more than his prior averages.

For the Patriots, the evaluation shifts entirely to Wishnowsky. The useful weekly checkpoints are net punting, placement inside the 20, touchbacks, coverage quality and the consistency of the holding operation. Those details will show whether New England’s decision is merely convenient or a durable solution for the rest of the season.

Football Nation takeaway

This is a real depth-chart decision, not a surprise fantasy transaction. Baringer’s release confirms that Wishnowsky has won the 2026 job after replacing him in Week 1, earning a 53-man roster spot and producing solid field-position numbers. The biggest beneficiary is continuity: the punter, holder and kicker operation remains intact as New England begins its Week 8 preparation.

For context on the team’s last game, read Football Nation’s Bears 30, Patriots 24 Week 7 recap.

Reporting cutoff: October 26, 2026 at 12:17 p.m. Central. Confirmed sources: NFL.com’s October 26 roundup, Patriots September 22 roster move, Mitch Wishnowsky official stats and the Patriots schedule.