The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks have executed a series of last-minute roster adjustments, with both teams promoting players from their practice squads less than a day before Super Bowl LX commences in San Francisco. These strategic moves come as the franchises finalise their line-ups for the championship showdown.
Patriots Elevate Key Defensive and Special Teams Contributors
The Patriots have elevated defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III and running back D'Ernest Johnson to their active roster. Johnson has been a consistent presence throughout New England's postseason campaign, serving exclusively as the kickoff returner. The 29-year-old veteran has returned four kickoffs for a total of 106 yards across the team's three playoff matches.
Taylor's promotion follows his heroic performance in the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos, where he emerged as the match-winner. His ascent to the active roster was widely anticipated after that pivotal display.
Taylor's Game-Changing Block and Remarkable Journey
During the AFC Championship, a severe snowstorm at Empower Field at Mile High created near-impossible scoring conditions in the second half. The Patriots managed to secure a narrow 10-7 lead with a third-quarter field goal. The game was ultimately decided by Taylor's critical play.
With under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Broncos kicker Will Lutz attempted a 45-yard field goal to tie the game. Taylor leaped and deflected the ball with his fingertips, recording his first career blocked kick and sealing the Patriots' victory. This moment highlighted the 23-year-old's resilience after a challenging start to his professional career.
Taylor initially joined the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2024 but saw limited action during his rookie season. After being released by the winless Jets early in the 2025 season, he was promptly signed by the Patriots to their practice squad. He has since featured in three regular-season games and all three postseason contests leading to Super Bowl LX.
"I went from a losing team to a Super Bowl team, so it's pretty great," Taylor remarked after the AFC Championship victory. "It's pretty amazing, just knowing that all the hard work I put in has finally been noticed and seen. It's pretty wild leaving an organisation that was fighting every week to get to a win to now coming to a team that's consistently winning. It's pretty fun."
Seahawks Bolster Backfield Following Injury Setback
The Seattle Seahawks have responded to their own roster needs by promoting a pair of practice-squad running backs, Cam Akers and Velus Jones Jr. This move comes in the wake of Zach Charbonnet's season-ending knee injury, sustained during the NFC divisional-round victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Charbonnet had been a crucial component of Seattle's running attack, providing a powerful complement to Kenneth Walker III and posing a significant threat in the red zone. His absence has necessitated reinforcements to the Seahawks' backfield as they prepare for the championship game.
These last-minute promotions underscore the dynamic nature of team preparations ahead of the Super Bowl, with both franchises making calculated adjustments to optimise their chances of lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
