In a surprising turn of events, the New England Patriots have placed offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor on the team’s exempt list as the 27-year-old weighs his future in the NFL. The news comes after Okorafor expressed frustration with his performance, particularly in the Patriots’ Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. According to MassLive’s Karen Guregian, Okorafor has communicated with the team despite his decision to step away, which contrasts with the typical behavior of players on the Exempt/Left Squad list.
Okorafor, who signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Patriots this past offseason, struggled during the Week 1 game.
His poor performance, particularly in containing the Bengals’ rushers, led to him being benched after just 12 snaps. Adrian Lowe took over at left tackle and delivered a solid performance, helping the Patriots secure an unexpected win over Cincinnati.
The Western Michigan product had spent the previous six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, primarily playing correct tackle. However, Okorafor rotated between both tackle positions during the Patriots training camp. Despite his versatility, his Week 1 struggles raised questions about his future with the team and in the NFL.
With Okorafor stepping away, Lowe is expected to assume the starting left tackle position. He will line up alongside left guard Michael Jordan, center David Andrews, rookie right guard Layden Robinson, and correct tackle Michael Onwenu. Third-round rookie Caedan Wallace is now projected to be the primary backup at both tackle spots. Meanwhile, guard Sidy Sow is working his way back from injury.
