Patriots Release Under-Performing Linebacker In Roster Move
The New England Patriots needed to create room on their 53-man roster Friday when they claimed veteran pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue off waivers.
They did so by saying goodbye to a linebacker who started four games this season.
The Patriots announced that they waived Raekwon McMillan, who initially joined New England via free agency in 2021. But McMillan’s time with the Patriots was derailed by injuries. He missed the entirety of his first season with New England due to a torn ACL and spent the 2023 campaign on injured reserve due to a partially torn Achilles.
McMillan, who appeared primarily on special teams with the Patriots in 2022, got a bigger role in New England’s defense with the Patriots linebacking corps dealing with injuries to Ja’Whaun Bentley and Oshane Ximines. He recorded 45 tackles in nine games, but struggled with the increased playing time.
McMillan saw his time on the field dramatically reduced following his last start in Week 6 against the Houston Texans. He went from playing 78% of defensive snaps in a Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers to playing a season-low 17% of defensive snaps in the overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday. The Patriots still used McMillan a great deal on special teams.
But that wasn’t enough to keep him around with the Patriots adding Ngakoue, who can get after the quarterback from the edge unlike McMillan.
There still is a chance that McMillan could wind up on New England’s practice squad. The soon-to-be 28-year-old would have to clear waivers first for that to happen.
The Patriots linebacking group is extremely thin now for their road game Sunday against the Chicago Bears. With Ngakoue presumably not having enough turnaround time to suit up and Christian Elliss already ruled out for the contest, the Patriots have just Jahlani Tavai, Sione Takitaki, Curtis Jacobs and Ochaun Mathis available at the linebacker spot.