Bradley Fletcher Released by Patriots: Latest Details, Comments

According to ESPN's Field Yates, the New England Patriots released veteran cornerback Bradley Fletcher on Saturday. 

The seven-year veteran was in his first season with the Patriots, appearing in two games while recording 10 total tackles. He had not appeared in a game since Week 2, listed as a healthy scratch against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He picked up a hamstring injury during the bye week, and if he remained with the team, he would not have been available for Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, per the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe.

RotoWire (h/t CBSSports.com) reported that Fletcher had fallen to the No. 5 cornerback on the Patriots depth chart behind Malcolm Butler, Tarell Brown, Logan Ryan and Justin Coleman before his release. 

Without Fletcher, the Patriots could have been in trouble at the corner position when Brown picked up a foot injury during the week, but he was a full participant at practice Friday and is probable for Week 5, according to CSNNE.com's Phil Perry. 

Now with four cornerbacks on its roster, New England could be shorthanded if anything were to happen to one of the members of its secondary. ESPN's Mike Reiss broke down what the team's corner group looks like:

For Fletcher, his veteran presence could be used as added depth on a team struggling to stop the pass. He has recorded at least an interception in four of his first six seasons, along with a career-high 22 pass deflections last year with the Philadelphia Eagles. With six teams in the league this season allowing 285 or more passing yards per game, there could be opportunities out there for him. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com