Patriots Release WR Cameron Meredith and OT Caleb Benenoch

(NBCSports)

A month ago, the Patriots had high aspirations for the blooming wide receiver from Illinois State University. Only four days after getting cut from the New Orleans Saints, New England signed Meredith to a two year deal.

Meredith was poised to have a decent sized role as a Patriot. The signing came before the return of Josh Gordon, before all the AB crap, and before the breakout preseason of Jakobi Meyers. 

So, this guy was honestly about to be our WR3 before shit hit the fan for him. 

He wound up on the PUP List (Physically Unable to Play) shortly after his signing, and never came off it. 

Guess the Pats just didn't want to wait for him to heal up. 

With the Patriots Injury Reserved List (IR) littered with key players, Meredith was surely at the bottom in terms of value and importance. 

In 2017, the NFL implemented a new rule that states only two players can come off IR and rejoin their team after 8 weeks.

The Patriots currently have N'Keal Harry, David Andrews, Isaiah Wynn, James Develin, and now Stephen Gostkowski on IR. All five of these players are starters and huge keys to the Patriots success. 

It is unclear which route the Pats will go in terms of who they will bring back, but Meredith was a long shot to play this year. So, the Pats freed up some cap space with his release. 

Oh yeah, and some guy named Caleb Benenoch was cut as well? Not really significant, never heard of the guy and he never played in a game. He was signed after Wynn went on IR, and released now with the return of Ben Watson from his four game suspension. 

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