​FOXBOROUGH — For the first time since he’s been with the Patriots, Mitch Wishnowsky has a little job security.Among NFL specialists, that concept is mostly a myth. An injury, one bad game or even one bad play in a key spot can send the personnel department scurrying for a replacement.After the Patriots chose to release Bryce Barringer instead of activating him from injured reserve, Wishnowsky has a little stability.For now.The life of a punter is hard. Wishnowsky started the year in Bills training camp, but lost a roster spot battle to rookie Tommy Doman, who Buffalo selected in the seventh round.There are more punters who are good enough to kick in the NFL than there are NFL jobs. It creates a stressful game of musical chairs every preseason. Not making a team in August can lead to season-long unemployment. “If you’re not on a team at the start of the season, you need someone to not perform or get hurt,” Wishnowsky said in an accent that made his Australian roots unmistakable.So when Bryce Barringer suffered an undisclosed injury during the preseason, Wishnowsky jumped at the Patriots’ practice squad offer.Wishnowsky was elevated on game day for Week 1 and Week 2 and then signed to the active roster before Week 3.Still, it seemed like the 34-year-old was on a temp gig. The expectation was that Barringer would eventually be back. And nobody carries two punters on their 53-man roster.New England Patriots Mitch Wishnowsky (19) makes a punt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)AP Photo/Greg M. CooperJust how invested can a player let themselves get in their team if getting cut seems inevitable?It’s logistically difficult too.Wishnowsky and his wife have two children under the age of 5. While some players in similar situations live apart from their family during the season, the Wishnowskys have stayed together, wherever he’s kicking.“There was not much for housing,” he said. “It’s hard, especially when you think you might only be here for four or five weeks.”He said Airbnbs are much harder to find in Massachusetts, but they eventually found an apartment that could accommodate their family, hoping they wouldn’t all have to be uprooted again.“It can be tough, but I’d rather them be here with me,” he said.But the NFL’s IR rules combined with the Patriots’ run of injuries to their offensive line and their receivers solidified Wishnowsky’s status.NFL teams can only bring eight players back from injured reserve or non-football injury designations over the course of the regular season. The Patriots have already activated wide receiver A.J. Brown and special teamer Brenden Schooler and designated Marcus Bryant to return.That means they can only activate five other players off of IR for the rest of the year. They have a long list of key players with non-season-ending injuries already and there’s certainly n