Bill Belichick has officially confirmed that Tyrone Wheatley Jr.’s season with the New England Patriots has come to an end.
Despite appearing in only two games and returning to practice in mid-December, the offensive tackle will not be activated off injured reserve in time for the upcoming home game against the New York Jets, as the deadline for activation was Wednesday.
The Patriots acquired Wheatley in a late August trade with the Cleveland Browns, involving running back Pierre Strong. As an undrafted player in 2022 and a former college tight end, Wheatley was considered a developmental prospect for the offensive tackle position.
Although he was active in the first two games of the season, Wheatley did not take any offensive snaps, only playing five snaps on special teams.
Subsequently, he was inactive for the following three games before being sidelined due to a knee injury, leading to his placement on injured reserve.
Looking ahead, Wheatley is set to become an exclusive-rights free agent in the offseason, restricting him to negotiations with the Patriots only.
It is likely that he will return to New England next summer, where he will have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the roster.
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