At issue seems to be the one-year deal Lynch signed early in camp after the Broncos cut him. As a vested veteran, the entire contract becomes guaranteed if Lynch is on the roster in Week 1; that’s not the case thereafter.

Lynch is free to return to the Patriots, because his vested veteran status means another team can’t claim him. Yesterday’s move immediately made him a free agent.

Lynch appeared in three preseason games for the Pats. With safety Tank Williams lost to a season-ending knee injury, Lynch seemed like a good candidate to replace him as a hybrid linebacker/safety in the team’s sub packages."