When New England's backfield depth chart took a hit, the Patriots looked to a former Aggie to fill the gap — and Lan Larison answered the call.
The UC Davis alum was promoted from New England's practice squad to the 53-man roster on October 31, ahead of the Patriots' Week 9 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The move was directly tied to the absence of RB TreVeyon Henderson, who was ruled out for the game alongside receiver A.J. Brown. Larison, 25, stepped in to provide depth in a suddenly thin New England backfield.
The promotion raised eyebrows in some corners of the Boston media. Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard questioned whether the move exposed Larison to poaching by other teams — a notable risk for a practice squad elevation — given the 209-pound back's size and skillset. The Patriots apparently decided the risk was worth taking to shore up the position ahead of a divisional game.
On Sunday, Larison logged six rushing yards in New England's 24–19 win over Miami. The stat line was modest, but his presence on a live game-day roster — against a division rival, with meaningful stakes — is the real headline for a player who entered the league without a draft pedigree.
Larison becomes one of the more prominent UC Davis alumni currently active in the NFL, joining a small but notable group of Aggies making their mark on league rosters. New England's decision to trust him in a pinch speaks to the work he's put in on the practice squad to stay ready.
Whether Larison holds a roster spot beyond the injury situation remains to be seen, but for at least one week, the former Aggie was exactly where the Patriots needed him.
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