The Patriots announced the release of first-year safety Ross Ventrone on Thursday.
Ventrone has spent most of the last season and a half on New England’s practice squad, but has been on the team’s active roster for five weeks this season, appearing in four games and making one tackle as a backup safety and contributor on special teams.
If the 5-foot-8, 190-pound safety from Villanova clears waivers, he will likely return to the practice squad.
New England did not announce an addition to the roster, which could be filled by defensive lineman Ron Brace, who is on the PUP list and is nearing the end of a three-week window the team has to add him to the active roster.