The Patriots have started paring down their roster well ahead of next week’s cut to 75 players with center Bryan Stork, running back Donald Brown and cornerback E.J. Biggers among those given their release.
Tom Curran of CSN New England reports that veteran wide receiver Nate Washington has been added to that list.
Washington signed with the Patriots in March and was part of what coach Bill Belichick called “probably as good” a competition for roster spots at the position as the team has had during Belichick’s tenure. Washington never made his way to the front of that competition, catching one pass for eight yards in two preseason outings, and will now have to find another team if he’s going to play a 12th NFL season.
With Washington gone, the Patriots are left with rookie Malcolm Mitchell, Keshawn Martin, Aaron Dobson and Chris Harper in the hunt for spots behind Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan. Amendola remains on the PUP list and Mitchell has an elbow injury, which could impact the decisions still to be made in the coming weeks.