Patriots reportedly commerce Pierre Sturdy Jr. to Browns for OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

Patriots

New England is chopping ties with one in every of its 2022 fourth-round picks to get much-needed assistance on the offensive line.

Pierre Sturdy Jr.’s time in New England ends after one season. Barry Chin/Globe Workers

The Patriots are including depth at offensive deal with at the price of dropping working again depth.

The Patriots are buying and selling working again Pierre Sturdy Jr. to the Cleveland Browns for offensive deal with Tyrone Wheatley Jr., NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. The transfer comes two days previous to when groups have to chop down their rosters to 53 gamers.

With the transfer, the Patriots get much-needed offensive line assist. New England has handled accidents to each of its beginning guards for a lot of coaching camp and the preseason, because it additionally hasn’t discovered a beginning proper deal with but. The Patriots’ offensive line woes have been on show within the final two preseason video games, with Mac Jones getting sacked twice within the three drives he performed in through the exhibition season and Bailey Zappe getting sacked 4 instances in Friday’s sport.

Wheatley may assist with that. The 6-foot-6, 26-year-old deal with has reportedly been spectacular at left deal with for the Browns throughout coaching camp and the preseason, however he’s additionally but to register a snap in an NFL regular-season sport.

The 2020 undrafted free agent started his profession with the Bears in 2021, enjoying on their apply squad that season. He joined the Browns final September when he signed a deal to hitch their apply squad. In between his stints with the Bears and Browns, Wheatley spent coaching camp with the Raiders in 2022.

As for Sturdy, he turned a bit extra expendable after the Patriots signed Ezekiel Elliott earlier in August. Rhamondre Stevenson and Elliott are locks to make the ultimate 53-man roster, whereas Ty Montgomery and J.J. Taylor have had notable roles within the passing sport out of the backfield for the Patriots throughout coaching camp. Second-year again Kevin Harris has additionally been closely concerned through the preseason.

Sturdy’s time in New England ends after one season because the Patriots didn’t get a lot out of the 2022 fourth-round choose. He performed simply 51 offensive snaps final season, recording 10 rushes for 100 yards and 7 receptions for 42 yards, as most of his enjoying time got here when each Stevenson and Damien Harris have been down with accidents. Sturdy did not make a powerful impression within the preseason, dashing for 52 yards on 14 carries.