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Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterNov 16, 2024, 10:14 AM ET
- Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots informed wide receiver Tyquan Thornton that he was being waived on Saturday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
A 2022 second-round pick out of Baylor with blazing speed, Thornton never emerged as the top threat the Patriots had hoped he would after he clocked a 4.28 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
With the Patriots carrying seven receivers on their 53-man roster and Thornton as the seventh option, the team loosens the logjam at the position and creates a roster spot that could be earmarked for defensive tackle Christian Barmore or cornerback Alex Austin.
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Barmore, who was diagnosed with blood clots in late July and returned to practice for the first time Thursday, has a chance to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, according to coach Jerod Mayo.
Austin (ankle) has been practicing fully after the Patriots designated him to return from injured reserve Oct. 30 and his 21-day window to make a decision on his status is closing in.
As for the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Thornton, he played in six games this season with one start. He totaled four catches for 47 yards.
Overall, he appeared in 28 games (13 starts) for the Patriots and amassed 39 receptions for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
When the Patriots selected wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk (second round, No. 37) and Javon Baker (fourth round, No. 110) in the 2024 draft, it put Thornton in a position where he had to fight for a roster spot.
After being active for the first five games of the season, he had been inactive for four of the past five games. The emergence of second-year receiver Kayshon Boutte was also a factor in pushing Thornton down the depth chart.
