The New England Patriots are making headlines this week as they bolster their pass rush ahead of a crucial AFC Divisional Round showdown with the Houston Texans. In a move that’s as strategic as it is intriguing, the Patriots have officially signed edge rusher Darrell Taylor to their practice squad, just days after he was released by the Texans. The timing? Impeccable. The stakes? Couldn’t be higher, as both teams gear up for their playoff clash this Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
Darrell Taylor, 28, is no stranger to the NFL’s ever-shifting landscape. His journey has taken him from Seattle to Chicago, then to Houston, and now, to Foxborough. A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft (No. 48 overall), Taylor’s career has been marked by flashes of brilliance and, more recently, a battle with injury. The 6-foot-4, 267-pound Tennessee product has logged 69 career games, racking up 126 tackles, 24.5 sacks, 43 quarterback hits, 25 tackles for loss, and seven forced fumbles. His best season came in 2022 with the Seahawks, when he notched a career-high 9.5 sacks.
But this season was a different story. Taylor inked a one-year, $4.75 million deal with the Texans in the offseason, a contract that included a $2 million signing bonus and a host of incentives. Expectations were high, but an ankle injury in early November landed him on injured reserve after just four games and three tackles for Houston. He was designated to return ahead of the Texans’ Wild Card matchup with the Steelers but was ultimately waived on January 12 to make room for rookie safety Jaylen Reed. Taylor cleared waivers and became a free agent on January 13, opening the door for the Patriots to pounce.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addressed the move in his Wednesday press conference, noting, “Well, we had conversations with him in free agency. Ended up going somewhere else. And then, when he became available, we got together and had a conversation and were able to bring him in.” Vrabel’s comments reflect both the team’s long-standing interest in Taylor and the urgency of the current playoff moment.
To make room for Taylor on the 17-man practice squad, the Patriots released running back Elijah Mitchell. Mitchell, 27, had only recently joined the team after a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. His NFL resume includes 1,523 rushing yards, 158 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns across 28 games—a solid career, but the Patriots’ focus right now is clear: defense, defense, defense.
And why not? The Patriots’ pass rush is coming off one of its best performances of the season, having stifled the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round. Key contributors like Harold Landry, K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, and Elijah Ponder have kept opposing quarterbacks on their toes. But as the playoffs progress, depth and fresh legs become critical. Taylor’s arrival gives the Patriots another veteran option—and, perhaps, a secret weapon against his former team.
There’s another layer to this story that’s hard to ignore: Taylor’s recent experience inside the Texans’ locker room. While it’s rare for teams to sign a player solely for their knowledge of an opponent’s playbook, it’s certainly a handy bonus. Several reports have noted that the Patriots might try to glean some insight about Houston’s defensive schemes from Taylor, regardless of whether he’s elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s game. As Field Level Media put it, there’s a “strong possibility of elevating him” for the playoff matchup—a scenario that would see Taylor suiting up against the very team that let him go just days ago.
For Taylor, the last few years have been a whirlwind. After three seasons in Seattle, where he started 13 games and accumulated 21.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, he was traded to the Chicago Bears in 2024. There, he produced three sacks and nine quarterback hits in 16 games before moving to Houston. His time with the Texans was short and hampered by injury, but his preseason performance reportedly showcased the speed and pass-rushing moves that made him a coveted prospect out of college.
The Patriots’ move to sign Taylor is as much about the present as it is about the future. With the playoffs in full swing, every roster spot counts. Taylor’s addition not only strengthens the team’s pass-rush rotation but also provides insurance in case of injuries or fatigue. And let’s not forget, there’s always the possibility of a playoff hero emerging from the practice squad—stranger things have happened in January football.
For Taylor, this is a shot at redemption and a chance to make an immediate impact on a playoff-bound team. The veteran has shown he can get to the quarterback—his 24.5 career sacks are no fluke—and if he’s activated, he’ll be looking to prove he still has plenty left in the tank. The Patriots, for their part, are betting that Taylor’s experience and hunger will pay dividends as they chase another deep postseason run.
Sunday’s divisional clash between the Patriots and Texans is set for 3 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. With Taylor now in the fold, all eyes will be on whether the Patriots decide to elevate him for the game—and if so, how much of an impact he can make against his former squad. Will Taylor’s inside knowledge give New England an edge? Will he deliver a signature playoff moment in a new uniform? The anticipation is palpable.
As the Patriots continue to fine-tune their roster and game plan, one thing is clear: they’re leaving no stone unturned in their quest for playoff glory. Darrell Taylor’s journey from Houston to Foxborough is the latest twist in a postseason full of surprises. Whether he’s on the field Sunday or contributing behind the scenes, Taylor’s presence adds another layer of intrigue to an already compelling matchup. The countdown to kickoff is on, and the Patriots’ newest addition is ready for whatever comes next.
