Patriots place OT Chukwuma Okorafor on waivers/other players list

Patriots

Okorafor was held out of the lineup after 12 snaps in New England’s season opener.

One of Eliot Wolf’s offseason acquisitions is apparently leaving after just one game with the Patriots.

Offensive quarterback Chukwuma Okorafor, a former third-round draft pick, has been placed on the “waived/vacated” list by New England. The designation frees up a spot on the Patriots’ roster while Okorafor’s official status — likely waivers or contract termination — is finalized.

According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, New England will likely use that roster spot for offensive lineman Michael Jordan. Jordan was elevated to the practice squad in Week 1 and is being promoted again ahead of the Patriots’ opener on Sunday afternoon. He played a key role in New England’s Week 1 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

With Sidy Sow set to miss another week in Week 2, Jordan will likely continue his role as the team’s starting left guard.

Okorafor was the starter in the Patriots’ season opener but played in just 12 offensive snaps before being cut from the lineup. He has 60 career starts dating back to 2018 and was New England’s only notable offensive line addition in free agency.

The “waived/left-handed” list isn’t widely used, though interestingly, the Patriots have some experience with the term in recent history. Last season, almost a year ago, New England placed quarterback Matt Corral on the “waived/left-handed” list. The exact reason for the move was not specified, and Corral left the team without any notice.

Okorafor’s situation is different than Corral’s, though. Okorafor has let New England know he’s leaving, according to Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald. Karen Guregian of MassLive adds that Okorafor is “considering whether he still wants to play football.”

If Okorafor decides to continue playing football, the Patriots could remove him from the roster and bring him back. For now, though, they will enter Week 2 with 52 players on the roster.