The New England Patriots are continuing their busy Saturday. After already parting ways with four players earlier today — a group including promising undrafted rookie wide receiver Jeff Thomas — the team has decided to release two more players: as first reported by Jeff Howe of The Athletic, wide receiver Andre Baccellia and offensive lineman Tyler Gauthier have been waived by the team.
WR Andre Baccellia
Baccellia originally arrived in the NFL earlier this year, when the Kansas City Chiefs signed him as an undrafted free agent. The rookie failed to find a permanent spot on the world champions’ roster, however, and was released again in mid-August before joining the Patriots a short time later. Given his late arrival, his odds of making the team were naturally low to begin with — his release confirms this thought.
That said, New England’s coaching staff did give itself a chance to take a closer look at the rookie and assess whether or not he is worth retaining on the practice squad if going through the waiver wire unclaimed. Baccellia’s experience could work in his favor: before arriving in Kansas City, the wide receiver spent five years at the University of Washington and appeared in a combined 48 games. Along the way, he combined to catch 107 passes for 1,183 yards and five touchdowns.
C Tyler Gauthier
Gauthier first arrived in the NFL last year as an undrafted free agency pickup by the Patriots. He was was eventually released, however, and had to spend the first month of the regular season on the open market. He did get drafted by the XFL in mid-October, but decided to re-sign with the Patriots via their practice squad. The rookie spent two months on New England’s developmental roster before getting signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ active roster. Gauthier was a healthy scratch for each of the team’s final three games.
The Jaguars released him earlier this year, opening the door for him to return to the Patriots. While he failed to make enough of an impact to be kept as a backup interior offensive lineman on the 53-man roster, he could go the same route as last year and return to New England via its practice squad.