Patriots re-sign safety Elliott Davison to practice squad, release veteran tight end

After 24 hours as a free agent, Elliott Davison has circled back to Gillette Stadium.

The New England Patriots re-signed the safety to the practice squad on Tuesday. To make room, the organization announced the release of tight end Shane Zylstra from the 17-man group.

Davison, 24, initially joined the practice squad as the calendar turned to September. Entering the second week of the regular season, the 6-foot, 200-pound safety landed among a series of transactions. He now returns for a second stint.

Undrafted out of UTSA in 2025, Davison spent the entirety of last campaign on the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints and re-upped with a futures contract in January. The Roadrunners product went on to play 141 snaps between defense and special teams during his second NFL preseason, notching one start, before being waived at the league’s 53-man roster deadline in August.

Zylstra, 29, brought New England’s practice squad to capacity with his arrival earlier in the month. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound tight end stands as a veteran of 35 games, including six starts. He has caught 18 passes for 136 yards and four touchdowns over the course of 582 snaps on offense and 393 snaps on special teams.

Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State in 2020, Zylstra spent his rookie training camp with the Minnesota Vikings. The former Division II All-American proceeded to spend five years with the Detroit Lions between the practice squad, active roster and injured reserve before spending the 2026 offseason with the Buffalo Bills.

The practice squad in Foxborough also currently includes running back Lan Larison, wide receivers Kyle Dixon, Cameron Dorner and Chandler Brayboy, offensive linemen Lorenz Metz, Jake Kubas and Jacob Rizy, defensive tackles Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Eric Gregory, edge rushers Jose Ramirez and Xavier Holmes, linebackers K.J. Britt and Riley Wilson, defensive backs Kindle Vildor and Mike Brown, as well as punter Mitch Wishnowsky.

The Pittsburgh Steelers visit Gillette Stadium next Sunday. The home opener is set for 1 p.m. ET.