Patriots Release Kevin O’Connell

With time running out for the Patriots to cut down the roster size and an extra body at the quarterback position, someone needed to go. That person is Kevin O'Connell, as the Patriots released the second-year quarterback, a source informed Mike Reiss of The Boston Globe and John Clayton of ESPN.com.

O'Connell was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2008 draft out of San Diego State. The Patriots acquired Andrew Walter earlier in the preseason to provide competition at the position. Rookie Brian Hoyer is still on the roster as well.

The team released backup quarterback Matt Gutierrez earlier in the preseason, and he was later picked up by the Chiefs.

O'Connell has made six career passes, completing four of them for 23 yards.