New England Patriots Report

Practice squad starts to take shape

September, 1, 2012

9/01/12

1:30

PM ET

By Mike Reiss | ESPNBoston.com

With today's noon deadline for waiver claims passing, teams can now form practice squads of up to eight players.

The Patriots are planning to re-sign several players who were with them in training camp, and one agreement has already been confirmed -- fullback Eric Kettani.

Meanwhile, agreements were in the works with tight end Alex Silvestro, offensive tackle Matt Kopa and linebacker Jeff Tarpinian, but those players were still awaiting confirmation that they had not been claimed by other teams.

By rule, the Patriots will need to keep a full 53-man roster for the duration of Kopa's tenure on the practice squad, since Kopa already has two seasons of practice squad service (limit is three, as long as full 53-man roster is maintained).

Mike Reiss

Patriots reporter, ESPNBoston.com

Covered Patriots since 1997
Blogging on Pats since 2004
Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2009

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

Mike Reiss

Mike Reiss first started covering the Patriots in 1997 with the team's official newspaper, Patriots Football Weekly, before moving on to the MetroWest Daily News in his hometown of Framingham. From 2005 to 2009, he covered the Patriots for The Boston Globe, while also writing on the NFL. He started his popular Patriots blog in 2004. Send any questions or comments for Mike to his mailbag. Follow him on Twitter (@MikeReiss).

Mike Rodak

Mike Rodak began covering the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com in July 2010. A native of Grafton, Mass., Mike attended Providence College. Follow him on Twitter (@mikerodak)

Field Yates

Field Yates begins his contributions to ESPNBoston.com in 2012 after having written for a number of football-related sites around the web. Field began his professional career after college with the Kansas City Chiefs, working in both the scouting and coaching departments of the franchise before redirecting his focus to a career in media. He also interned for four summers in the coaching and scouting departments with the Patriots. Follow him on Twitter (@FieldYates).