Patriots Suddenly Terminate Contract of 27-Year-Old Defender

The New England Patriots released linebacker Jose Ramirez on Tuesday, opening a roster spot as the club manages returns from injury lists ahead of Sunday’s game.

Ramirez, 27, played in the team’s last two games after moving up from the practice squad on Sept. 23. He recorded one tackle in eight defensive snaps and 22 special teams snaps during that stretch.

The move pairs with practice-squad changes. New England signed rookie cornerback Al’Zillion Hamilton and released offensive lineman Da’Metrius Weatherspoon.

Ramirez is listed at 6-foot-2 and 252 pounds. He was born May 9, 1999, in Lake Alfred, Florida, and played high school football at Auburndale.

Tampa Bay selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, 196th overall, out of Eastern Michigan. He spent his full rookie season on the Buccaneers’ practice squad.

He reached the active roster in 2024 and appeared in four games. Those appearances covered 30 defensive snaps and 40 special teams snaps, with no tackles or sacks recorded.

Tampa Bay released him after training camp in 2025. He then played the season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

Ramirez signed a reserve/future contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 15, 2026. Philadelphia waived him on Aug. 30 following camp.

The Patriots added him to their practice squad on Sept. 1. His Sept. 23 promotion filled the opening created when safety Dell Pettus went on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

At Eastern Michigan, Ramirez was the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. He finished with 66 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 12 games.

Those 12 sacks set a single-season school record and tied for the national lead. His career college totals stand at 156 tackles and 20.5 sacks, second in program history.

In six NFL regular-season games overall, he has one tackle and zero sacks. Limited 2026 snaps drew a 67.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

Ramirez can rejoin the practice squad if he clears waivers. The Patriots host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Hamilton, 24, measures 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds. The undrafted Fresno State product played 54 college games with 35 starts, totaling 123 tackles, eight interceptions and 26 passes defensed.

Weatherspoon, 23, is 6-foot-6 and 319 pounds. He started all 12 games for Syracuse in 2025, mostly at right tackle, and joined the Patriots practice squad on Sept. 30 after his release from Buffalo.

The adjustments leave open spots on the 53-man roster. Special teams player Brenden Schooler has practiced and is nearing the window to return from the non-football injury list.