The New England Patriots have undergone much change to their wide receiver core over this offseason that has seen several vital contributors departing from the team.
According to Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network, the Patriots have decided to finally move on from third-year wideout Malcolm Mitchell on Monday.
The #Patriots have finally released WR Malcolm Mitchell, source said, a move weeks in the making. They shopped him to no avail, as his knee was a cause for concern.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 6, 2018
In the last few months, there has been plenty of rumblings around the team that Mitchell could be on his way out due to struggles with his health as he was dealing with a nagging knee injury that ailed him much of the 2017 season. However, there hadn't been much dialogue around that possibility in the last couple of weeks that had led to New England finally deciding to part ways.
In his rookie campaign, he had shown flashes of potential hauling in 32 catches on 48 targets for 401 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. Mitchell had quickly developed a strong bond on the field with star quarterback Tom Brady that helped him put up respectable numbers in a limited role. This had set up a promising future ahead with the Patriots, but it was never truly able to get off the ground due to his persistent health problems that arose over last several months that prevented him from even taking the field in the 2017 season.
It now puts him on the open market just days before the official start of the preseason as he could attract some attention from a team looking to add depth at the wide receiver position. This is a situation that may depend on the health of his knee moving forward in order for him to get an opportunity to join another team in the near future. Meanwhile, his departure comes just days after the team has placed offseason addition Jordan Matthews on the season-ending injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.
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