With the AFC Championship Game just days away, the New England Patriots made a quiet but telling move: they cut a recently added defender from the practice squad. The player is Darrell Taylor, a 28-year-old defensive end who joined the team on January 14 and was released on January 23.

Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the decision during his January 23 press conference. When asked how Taylor was settling in, Vrabel replied, “Uhh, yeah, we released Darrell Taylor. We’ll put that out there at 4:00. So, not very well.” The team later issued a brief statement: “The New England Patriots announced that DE Darrell Taylor has been released from the practice squad.”

The timing is striking. Taylor arrived the week of the divisional round against the Houston Texans but was not elevated for that game. Now, ahead of Sunday’s AFC title clash with the Denver Broncos, New England has opened a spot for another match-up move.

Why the Patriots made a quick pivot

On paper, Taylor brought something teams always want in January: speed off the edge. In reality, playoff preparation is a sprint. Install changes day to day, and if a new defender can’t plug in fast enough, every rep counts too much to wait. Vrabel’s candid answer said it plainly: the fit, or the timing, just did not click.

Practice-squad churn in the postseason is normal. Coaches adjust weekly to the opponent’s strengths, and the Broncos present a very different challenge than Houston did. This cut signals New England wants that slot free for a role they value more this week, whether that’s a core special teamer, a depth corner, or a heavy body for packages up front.

“Nine days in the building and gone — that says more about the plan than the player.”

Darrell Taylor’s resume, at a glance

Taylor is no unknown. Drafted 48th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in 2020, he has played 69 NFL games (13 starts) with 24.5 career sacks, 126 tackles, 43 quarterback hits, seven forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and five passes defended. His breakout season came in 2022: 9.5 sacks, 26 tackles, 13 QB hits, and four forced fumbles across 16 games.

At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, Taylor has the length and first step that makes coaches lean forward on the clicker. He’s also been on the move: three seasons with Seattle (2021–2023), a 2024 trade to the Chicago Bears, and then a 2025 stop with the Houston Texans. With Houston this past season, he appeared in four games and logged three tackles before an ankle injury sent him to injured reserve on November 5, 2025. He was activated on January 6 and released by the Texans on January 12.

Two days after that Houston release, New England brought him in. Nine days later, they moved on. The window was tiny, and the stakes are high.

“If Taylor can’t crack the rotation now, the staff must feel great about their edge room.”

Reading Vrabel’s message

Vrabel’s press conference line was blunt but honest. In January, coaches don’t sugarcoat fit. Learning a new defense with different terminology in a week is hard for anyone, even a veteran pass rusher. If a role can’t be carved out fast, it’s better for both sides to pivot.

This also hints at New England’s confidence in the defenders already in the building. If they believed Taylor would see the field in Denver, he’d still be around. Instead, the Patriots will likely use that practice-squad slot on a player who helps on special teams or fills a very specific sub-package need for the Broncos.

The playoff roster chessboard

Practice squads are the quiet engines of playoff teams. They supply the scout-team looks and serve as the emergency bench on game day. Opening one spot now allows New England to tailor depth for Sunday’s matchup. That can be as simple as adding a coverage player who mirrors a Denver route concept or a bigger edge who sets the edge in short yardage.

Taylor was not elevated for the divisional round win over Houston, which was the first hint this could go either way. With Denver up next, the Patriots are sending a clear message: every spot has to matter this week, not next month.

“This is a chess move, not a headline. Sunday is the only headline that matters.”

What it means for Taylor

Taylor now hits the market again, and his track record should earn more looks. Players with 24.5 career sacks and a 9.5-sack season on the resume will keep getting calls, especially once teams shift from playoff mode to offseason planning. Health and fit will be key after the ankle issue that put him on IR in November.

For a player with his burst, a spring signing to compete for a role is very realistic. He’s proven he can finish at the quarterback when the fit is right. The next team will weigh system, role, and the chance to rebuild momentum after a stop-and-start 2025.

What it means for New England

For the Patriots, the move is about focus. They signed Taylor on January 14 to see if he could help in a hurry. By January 23, they decided to free the slot for a different need as they prepare for the Broncos. It’s the kind of cold, quick decision that shows how Vrabel wants to run his playoff roster: clear roles, no clutter, and a premium on players who can help right now.

There’s no drama here, just a staff aligning every inch of the roster with Sunday’s plan. If another team shape or injury hits later this week, New England has room to act fast.

The bottom line

Darrell Taylor’s stay in New England lasted nine days, ending with a simple statement and a blunt line from the head coach. For Taylor, the search for the right spot continues. For the Patriots, it’s one more adjustment on the road to Sunday. Moves like this rarely win headlines. But they do tell you how a team is thinking in January: fast, focused, and willing to change course if a plan isn’t working.

In a week that ends with a chance to reach the Super Bowl, that’s the only approach that makes sense.