Patriots Rumors: Wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell released

Recent Patriots rumors are that the team has decided to release wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell.

As we get closer to the first preseason game for the New England Patriots, recent Patriots rumors are that the team has decided to release wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell.

Mitchell was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Georgia. Despite being a mid-round pick, Mitchell was able to have an impact on the team in his rookie season.

In 2016, Mitchell totaled 32 receptions, 401 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions. A bulk of Mitchell’s success in his rookie season came in the second half of the season, as he played his best then.

While Mitchell had some good games in the regular season, his Super Bowl performance against the Atlanta Falcons was certainly a good one. In the comeback win, Mitchell helped with some big plays, as he totaled six receptions and 70 receiving yards.

Coming off the strong rookie season, Mitchell was expected to be a young player on the rise for New England. However, he missed the entire 2017 season due to an injury, and despite being thin at wide receiver already, the Patriots have reportedly released Mitchell.

Unfortunately for Mitchell, his health appears to be the main reason why he was released. When he was healthy in his rookie season, he showed some signs that he could be a very good receiver on the outside with good size and speed. Sadly, it appears like his knee injury might be something that holds his NFL career back.

With Mitchell being released just a few days after the release of Jordan Matthews, the Patriots might once again be in the market for a wide receiver. At the end of last week, New England signed Eric Decker, who might be playing a prominent role in the offense now. Hopefully for Mitchell, he is able to get healthy and sign on somewhere else to continue his NFL career.