Okorafor was signed by the Patriots last March to a one-year deal. He was expected to serve as the veteran left tackle for a team that failed to make a big signing at the position in free agency. However, he struggled in the team’s opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and was benched in the middle of the game.

New England Patriots offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor (77) reacts on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper) AP The Patriots are expected to release offensive lineman Chuks Okorafor, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

The New England Patriots are cutting offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor from their team after he left the team in the middle of the 2024 season. The former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle signed with the Patriots this offseason on a one-year deal and was scheduled to be a free agent, but releasing him now will allow him to find a team earlier.

A month away from NFL free agency, Chukwuma Okorafor will be getting a head start. The New England Patriots released the veteran offensive tackle on Monday, as first reported from ESPN’s Field Yates.