Oct 18, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Pierre Strong Jr. (22) during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Oliver Thomas · SB Nation Wed, November 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New England Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf knows the Green Bay Packers well. And now, the same goes for offensive quality control coach T.C. McCartney, defensive quality control coach Jamael Lett, outside linebackers coach DeMarcus Covington and special teams coordinator Cam Achord.
But there's also those in the locker rooms. Between the active rosters, practice squads and reserve lists, seven players currently in the fold have been members of both clubs during the NFL careers.
Here's a glance through the ex-Patriots and ex-Packers ahead of Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium.
Pierre Strong Jr., running back — Selected by Bill Belichick's war room in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft at No. 127 overall, Strong checked into 15 games as a rookie. The FCS All-American out of South Dakota State handled 100 rushing yards, 42 receiving yards, 115 kickoff return yards and his first NFL touchdown across 23 all-purpose opportunities that season. He was traded to the Cleveland Browns at the cutdown deadline the following August in exchange for offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. After two campaigns in the AFC North, Strong spent 2025 on the practice squad of the Packers and now resides on Green Bay's 53-man roster. The 27-year-old running back stands 50 games into his career and with 116 carries for 536 yards, 34 catches for 243 yards, 24 kickoff returns for 570 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Jonnu Smith, tight end — Smith totaled 55 receptions for 539 yards and one touchdown across 30 games with the Patriots. The 31-year-old's stay spanned 19 starts and reached its end halfway through a four-year contract. A trade with the Atlanta Falcons during the 2023 offseason brought a seventh-rounder back in return. And on the heels of being named to the Pro Bowl while a member of the Miami Dolphins in 2024, Smith was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A one-year deal then got him to Lambeau Field in August. Originally entering the NFL with the Tennessee Titans at pick No. 100 overall in the 2017 draft, the Florida International product has amassed 351 catches, 28 carries, 3,819 yards and 32 touchdowns from scrimmage across 148 career games. Mike Mularkey and Mike Vrabel served as the tight end's head coaches in the AFC South before he agreed to terms at Gillette Stadium.
David Blay Jr., defensive tackle — The Packers added Blay to the practice squad at the end of September. The 23-year-old defensive tackle originally entered the NFL in Foxborough as part of the organization's undrafted class of 2026. He was waived by the Patriots two weeks into training camp and finished his rookie preseason with the Philadelphia Eagles before going through the wire unclaimed and catching on in Wisconsin. Blay made collegiate stops at West Chester, Louisiana Tech and Miami while appearing in 46 games.
John Saunders Jr., safety — Saunders joined Green Bay's practice squad on Tuesday after making autumn stops on scout teams in Ohio and New Jersey. The 25-year-old intercepted a pass in August preseason action with New England before being let go at the 53-man roster deadline. Last fall, as an undrafted rookie by way of Miami of Ohio and Ole Miss, Saunders had been added to the Patriots' active roster off the practice squad of the Dolphins. He agreed to remain in the fold as a member of the practice squad for the rest of 2025 after clearing waivers.
Romeo Doubs, wide receiver — The Patriots placed Doubs on injured reserve six games into the fall after he suffered a shoulder injury on a 42-yard touchdown catch. Signed to a four-year deal as an unrestricted free agent in March, the veteran wide receiver stands with 14 receptions for 261 yards and three visits to the end zone this campaign in Foxborough. Not eligible for a return until late November, Doubs originally entered the NFL with Green Bay in the fourth round of the 2022 draft at No. 132 overall. The 26-year-old Nevada product started 50 of his 59 games as a Packer while reeling in 216 passes for 2,424 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Greg Van Roten, guard — Van Roten landed on injured reserve in late September with a thigh injury. It was sustained at right guard during the 106th start and 147th game of his NFL journey. The 36-year-old had visited amid training camp and soon circled back on a one-year pact. First setting out as an undrafted rookie with the Green Bay Packers in 2012, the former All-Ivy League honoree out of Penn appeared in 10 games across two seasons there. Van Roten has been a member of eight different NFL organizations as well as the CFL's Toronto Argonauts since then. He logged back-to-back ironman campaigns with the New York Giants before taking on a depth role at Gillette Stadium.
Mike Brown, safety — Brown earned a promotion to New England's 53-man roster in October after twice serving as a standard elevation from the practice squad. The 27-year-old safety first landed with the Patriots after not being tendered as a restricted free agent in March. Through six games, he has handed nine tackles while seeing 38 snaps on defense and 127 snaps on special teams. Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2022, the Miami of Ohio alum spent his first preseason with the Minnesota Vikings and had a stint on Green Bay's practice squad before returning to his previous NFC North club. After moving on to Cleveland later in his rookie campaign and appearing in three games, he was signed to head coach Mike Vrabel's former Titans 53-man roster. The Tennessee tenure featured 59 tackles and a handful of starts across 35 contests.
Source: Sports
