One week after being benched for poor play in the Patriots’ season opener, offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor was placed on the team’s “exempt/left squad” list Saturday.
The Patriots also elevated guard Michael Jordan from the practice squad. Jordan started the Patriots’ Week 1 win over the Bengals and played all 64 snaps as a practice squad elevation.
Jordan cannot be elevated from the practice squad again.
Okorafor was in the Patriots’ locker room as recently as Friday. He was benched 12 plays into the team’s Week 1 win over the Bengals for Vederian Lowe on Sunday.
Placing Okorafor on the exempt/left squad list opens a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster.
Okorafor signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Patriots after being released by the Steelers. A career right tackle, he played both sides in training camp but was forced to start at left tackle in Week 1 after Lowe suffered an abdomen injury late in training camp.
Lowe practiced just once before replacing Okorafor against the Bengals. Okorafor allowed three pressures in just six pass-blocking snaps in Week 1 while Lowe allowed three pressures in 23 opportunities.
Originally Published: