Patriots Release Kyle Dixon After He Put on a Show in the Preseason Finale

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Patriots Release Kyle Dixon After He Put on a Show in the Preseason Finale

Heena Singh · Gridiron Heroics

Sat, Aug 29, 2026 ·

3 min read

Kyle Dixon Made A Strong Case To Stay

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Aug 13, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches from the sideline during the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The preseason finale capped an extremely efficient showing from Dixon. He caught all eight passes thrown his way for 71 yards against Cleveland, giving him 10 catches for 81 yards across two preseason appearances.

Dixon had given New England's coaching staff plenty of evidence that he could contribute, but the Patriots ultimately faced difficult roster decisions at wide receiver. According to a report from ESPN's Mike Reiss, the 25-year-old has been axed from the team's roster. Among other things, this situation depicts that, sometimes, high-end performances don't always translate to an NFL contract.

Dixon played collegiate baseball as a pitcher before eventually transitioning to football at Culver-Stockton College, where he developed into a productive receiver. He finished his college career with 143 receptions for 2,394 yards and 24 touchdowns across two seasons. His final campaign produced 83 catches for 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Those numbers convinced the Patriots to make a significant investment in him as an undrafted free agent. Dixon reportedly received $252,500 in guarantees on his three-year contract, one of the largest guaranteed packages New England has given an undrafted rookie. However, despite that commitment, the Patriots' receiver room proved difficult to crack.

New England added A.J. Brown through a major trade and signed Romeo Doubs during the offseason. DeMario Douglas , Mack Hollins , and rookie Kyle Williams also entered the roster battle with strong claims. Efton Chism III further complicated the situation after establishing himself as an intriguing developmental receiver and return specialist. Williams also proved productive with multiple touchdowns across New England's three preseason games.

The Patriots, therefore, had limited room for another receiver, even after trading Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans . Notwithstanding, though, Dixon's performance against Cleveland could still work in his favor. He now has to go through waivers, during which the other 31 NFL teams can potentially claim him.

If he clears waivers, New England reportedly has a strong chance of bringing him back to the practice squad. That outcome would allow the Patriots to continue developing a player who showed significant promise without immediately committing a 53-man roster spot.

However, his preseason finale may also have created a new problem. Eight catches on eight targets gave other teams plenty of recent film to evaluate, and a receiver with his size, production, and unusual athletic background could attract interest. For now, the athlete's path to the Patriots' active roster has ended. While Dixon awaits his next opportunity, a perfect 10-for-10 preseason receiving line should give him a strong case to attract interest if he reaches the open market.

Kyle Dixon Made A Strong Case To Stay

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