FOXBOROUGH — The New England Patriots announced the release of punter Bryce Baringer on Monday, opting to continue the season with Mitch Wishnowsky as their primary punter.
Baringer, a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, spent more than three seasons with the Patriots. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound punter averaged 47.9 yards per punt during his tenure and ranks fourth in franchise history with 10,500 total punting yards. He suffered a lower-body injury in the preseason and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. Due to roster constraints and the limited number of injured reserve return designations available, the Patriots decided to retain Wishnowsky for the remainder of the season and release Baringer to allow him the opportunity to sign with another team.
Head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, emphasizing the respect the team holds for Baringer’s contributions. “Those are tough decisions,” Vrabel said Monday before practice. “I don’t think those are things that you necessarily take lightly. Just felt like this was best for us, and best for Bryce, and give him an opportunity to go punt and see if somebody needs a punter.”
Baringer’s wife, Bella, posted on social media that he is healthy and eager to continue his career elsewhere. “With limited IR return spots available, the decision was made to release him so he could pursue an opportunity to play somewhere else this season,” she wrote. She also expressed gratitude toward the organization and optimism about his future prospects.
Wishnowsky, who has filled in this season, averages 47.1 yards per punt, ranking 20th in the league. He has also demonstrated skill in placing punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, accomplishing this 10 times, which is 13th-best in the NFL. The 34-year-old punter from Australia has served as the holder on kicking plays, providing versatility in special teams roles.
Reflecting on the situation, Wishnowsky noted that the decision was understandable given the Patriots’ injury situation and roster limitations. “If the options are sit on IR all year or get released and get a chance to play, I think it’s sort of in Bryce’s best interest to get a shot to play,” he said. He also praised Baringer’s ability, suggesting that he could have a strong season if given the right opportunity elsewhere.
Last season, Baringer played a key leadership role among the Patriots' younger specialists, mentoring long snapper Julian Ashby and kicker Andy Borregales. Borregales acknowledged the difficulty of losing Baringer but recognized it as part of the professional landscape. “It sucks to lose him, but it’s part of the game,” Borregales said. “He’s a great punter, a great guy, a great locker-room guy.”
Wishnowsky, who has also punted for the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, said he has adapted his technique to the challenging weather conditions at Gillette Stadium. “You just don’t try to fight it,” he said. “You’ve got to sort of work with it, and that’s how I approach it, at least for home games here.”
In other roster moves Monday, the Patriots re-signed linebacker Jose Ramirez to the practice squad and released offensive lineman Jacob Rizy from the practice squad.