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Patriots Cut Rookie Who Was Reportedly On Track To Win Key Roster Job
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- Patriots Cut Rookie Who Was Reportedly On Track To Win Key Roster Job
Patriots Cut Rookie Who Was Reportedly On Track To Win Key Roster Job originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Jam Miller appeared to be closing in on a spot on the New England Patriots ' initial 53-man roster. One injury and a late trade changed everything.
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The Patriots waived Miller with an injury designation Sunday, according to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz . The move ended a promising summer for the seventh-round rookie who reportedly had been on track to become New England 's No. 3 running back.
Miller's release came one day after the Patriots acquired Corey Kiner from the Arizona Cardinals for a seventh-round pick in the 2028 NFL Draft. New England also parted with Hassan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty , completely overhauling the competition behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson .
Miller's exit, however, was the most surprising.
Jam Miller Made Strong First Impression
The Patriots selected Miller with the No. 245 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft following his career at Alabama. He immediately made his case in New England's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts .
Miller started and led the Patriots with 55 yards on 14 carries. He ran physically, converted a pair of fourth-down opportunities and produced the team's longest rush of the game.
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"It was good to see Jam come out and have some nice runs," Mike Vrabel said after the game. "I felt like he ran with his pads down and had a couple physical runs, and was happy for him."
Miller finished the preseason as New England's leading rusher with 91 yards. His 4.42-second speed gave the Patriots another explosive option, while his 209-pound frame allowed him to handle work between the tackles. The rookie seemed to be taking control of the RB3 competition after Terrell Jennings landed on injured reserve.
Then Miller suffered a minor injury. He missed Thursday's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns , losing one final opportunity to strengthen his case. The Patriots responded by looking outside the organization.
MORE: Patriots Cut First External Addition Of Offseason In Roster Surprise
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Corey Kiner Trade Changes Everything
New England's decision to trade for Kiner provided the clearest indication that it wanted more certainty behind Stevenson and Henderson. Kiner now projects as the Patriots' third running back. Lan Larison also remains in the mix after demonstrating value as a receiver and kickoff returner during the preseason.
Miller was waived with an injury designation, meaning his next step depends on whether another team claims him. If he clears waivers, he will revert to New England's injured reserve list unless the sides agree to an injury settlement. That makes his situation different from a healthy player who could immediately return to the practice squad.
The Patriots' willingness to move on from a draft pick only four months after selecting him demonstrates how quickly NFL roster battles can change. Miller rushed for 1,596 yards and 13 touchdowns over 50 games at Alabama. He also caught 38 passes for 336 yards and two scores, offering the versatility teams typically seek from a reserve running back.
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For much of August, that résumé and his preseason production appeared likely to earn him a roster spot.
Instead, an untimely injury opened the door for New England to acquire Kiner and brought Miller's first Patriots training camp to a disappointing end.
