Monti Ossenfort held the roles of personnel assistant, area scout, national scout, assistant director of college scouting and director of college scouting while with the [New England Patriots](https://www.patspulpit.com/).
But the connections do not end with the general manager of the [Arizona Cardinals](https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/). A rolodex of players who made previous stops in Foxborough now reside between his active roster, practice squad and reserve lists in the NFC West.
Here’s a glance through the past and present names on both sides of Sunday’s 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff at State Farm Stadium.
ARIZONA
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**Andre Baccellia, wide receiver —** The 27-year-old Baccellia has remained with the Cardinals through a long line of transactions dating back to 2021. The latest brought him back to the practice squad at its formation following the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline in August. He stands with 45 receiving yards and 22 return yards through 13 career appearances on offense and special teams. Originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2020, the University of Washington product spent the initial week of his rookie regular season on the scout team in Foxborough before being released.
**Nick Leverett, guard —** After signing in March, the Patriots released Leverett in October on the heels of five appearances and one start at center. The 27-year-old saw 117 offensive snaps over that span. Two days later, he agreed to terms with the practice squad of the Cardinals and has continued there since then. Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2020, the guard by way of North Carolina Central and Rice University began his run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played in 16 games while a member of the Super Bowl LV champions, making 10 starts in 2022.
**Hjalte Froholdt, center —** The New England war room filled out Froholdt’s card in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft at No. 118 overall. The Denmark native, who played collegiately at Arkansas, would spend his rookie year on injured reserve before being waived eight appearances into 2020. The Houston Texans claimed Froholdt, who later agreed to depart from the practice squad for a 53-man roster spot with the Cleveland Browns. The 28-year-old center has since started all 30 games over the past pair of campaigns in the NFC West, earning a two-year contract extension in August. He played 99.3 percent of the downs last season and stands at 98.4 percent this season.
**Angelo Blackson, defensive tackle —** In his second stint, Blackson was placed on the practice squad’s injured list in October after he made his 2024 debut as a standard elevation. The 32-year-old Auburn product’s NFL career got underway with the Tennessee Titans at pick No. 100 overall in the 2015 class. He then spent the initial two months of the 2017 campaign on the practice squad in Foxborough before finding a 53-man opportunity in the AFC South. Through 129 games, including 42 starts, Blackson stands with 180 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He has also had a hand in one interception, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries.
**Mack Wilson Sr., linebacker —** As legal tampering opened around the league in March, Wilson’s stay in Foxborough came to a close after 34 games. The 26-year-old agreed to terms with Arizona on a three-year pact and has made a dozen starts since then, totaling 67 tackles, three sacks, one fumble recovery as well as one interception. Originally acquired in exchange for fellow linebacker Chase Winovich, he had been retained by New England as a free agent in 2023. Career highs with a pair of forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks followed for the Alabama product, who went No. 155 overall to Cleveland in the 2019 NFL draft.
**Chad Ryland, kicker —** In the fourth round of the 2023 class, the Patriots called upon Ryland at No. 112 overall. The specialist by way of Eastern Michigan and Maryland would be waived the following summer after a rookie season that saw him go 16-of-25 on field goals and 24-of-25 on extra points. Ryland went on to sign to the Cardinals’ practice squad. Standard elevations came soon after with veteran incumbent Matt Prater sent to injured reserve. The 25-year-old holds a place on the 53-man roster now, and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in October after kicking a trio of game-winning field goals. He stands 19-of-23 on the year, including a long of 57 yards, and has yet to miss an extra point.
NEW ENGLAND
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**Ben Brown, center —** Brown has started all eight games at center since being signed off the practice squad of the Las Vegas Raiders in October. The 26-year-old’s road to Gillette Stadium proved to be a circuitous one. Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss in 2022, he spent his rookie year on injured reserve with the Cincinnati Bengals before going between the practice squad and active roster of the Seattle Seahawks last fall. His first career snaps beyond the preseason followed at left guard. Then Brown joined the practice squad in Arizona ahead of the 2023 finale. He was not tendered a futures contract last January.
**Lecitus Smith, center —** New England signed Smith off the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad midway through October. The 26-year-old interior lineman has checked into five games, starting one in the backfield, since then for the active roster. Entering the NFL in the sixth round of the 2022 draft at No. 216 overall, Smith saw 209 snaps on offense and 37 snaps on special teams as a rookie with the Cardinals. His stay spanned 10 games, including two starts. The Virginia Tech product then spent last campaign between a pair of practice squads after visiting Foxborough for a workout.