Defensive back and special teamer Justin Bethel has likely played his last snap of football for the New England Patriots.
The 32-year-old veteran was informed of his release by the team ahead of Tuesday’s roster cut deadline, where teams were tasked with trimming their rosters down to 53 players.
It was a surprising move by the Patriots considering the value Bethel added as a core member on special teams, along with his ability to step in and play on defense.
He isn’t subject to waivers after his release. So there’s still a possibility he could re-sign with the Patriots after they’ve created roster space. But after his recent social media post, it’s more likely that he’s moving on and bidding farewell to his three-year tenure in New England.
One has to wonder if the sudden emergence of former undrafted rookie free agent Brendan Schooler had anything to do with the Patriots’ decision to release Bethel.
The team is obviously making an effort to get younger. There is plenty of youth in the defensive backfield, and Schooler has shown flashes of being an up-and-coming special teams ace.
Granted, that doesn’t mean another team won’t be buzzing up Bethel’s phone at some point. There are still teams out there that could certainly use his services.
