Patriots signed Broncos WR before AFC Championship Game, got info they needed, then released him

Jan 25, 2026 - 19:30

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Patriots signed Broncos WR before AFC Championship Game, got info they needed, then released him originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots actually got a two-fold benefit out of signing Trent Sherfield less than two weeks ago, before the AFC Divisional Round.

The first involved the Buffalo Bills, who were in dire need of a wide receiver due to injuries. With the Pats signing Sherfield, it prevented a potential later-in-the-playoffs opponent from getting the veteran wideout from free agency.

And then once the Patriots won and Bills lost, it had an added benefit: Sherfield had spent most of 2025 with the Denver Broncos. And the Pats are playing the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.

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That means Sherfield likely had at least some insight on Denver, including on QB Jarrett Stidham, who Sherfield is pictured with at the top of this article during the 2025 preseason.

Sherfield's reward for being doubly helpful? A release.

The Pats signed him to the practice squad and kept him for 11 days before cutting him this weekend.

NFL is a cold world. New England released WR Trent Sherfield from their practice squad today before traveling to Denver. Patriots signed him 11 days ago.

Sherfield spent spring, summer and first part of the season with the #Broncos.— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel) January 24, 2026

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This is just the way the NFL works, of course. There are countless examples of such signings being made to gather intel.

For a guy like Sherfield, it's never a bad thing to earn good favor with a team and also potentially put some solid practice reps together in front of the coaching staff. That can only help down the road to get another opportunity.

When you're on the fringes of an NFL roster, you take what you can get.

And when you're trying to get to the Super Bowl, you use every avenue you can to give yourself the best chance.