Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gave an update on offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatly Jr. Wednesday morning.
Although the Patriots have until 4:00 p.m. today to activate Wheatley Jr. off the injured reserve, Belichick does not think that will happen.
After practicing on December 13th for the first time since his injury, his 21-day practice period started. If the Patriots don’t activate him from the injured reserve, he will revert to the season-ending IR.
Wheatley Jr, 25, was an undrafted free agent in 2020 and played with the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, and Clevland Browns before arriving with the Patriots. The Patriots acquired the tackle via trade with the Clevland Browns before the roster deadline in August. The Patriots traded RB Pierre Strong Jr. to the Browns in return for Wheatley Jr.
The tackle situation has been lackluster at best for the 2023 Patriots. Wheatley Jr has yet to make the impact he hoped to have when he joined the team before the season started. He played five snaps in 2023, none of those on the offense. Unfortunately, Wheatley Jr suffered a knee injury in October and was placed on the injured reserve shortly after.
However, the Patriots designated him to return to practice last month, starting his 21-day activation period. Many thought the University of Michigan alum would be activated, given Trent Brown was a healthy scratch against the Bills last week.
It’s also worth noting that a source told The Patriots Beat in December – that Tyrone Wheatley Jr was progressing well, and there was a chance he would be activated before the season finale. But he wasn’t. And now, Wheatley Jr becomes the fourth Patriots tackle to be placed on the season-ending IR. The others are Riley Reiff, Calvin Anderson, Riley Reiff, and Conor McDermott.
“It was not the way we thought it would happen when we acquired some of the guys at the beginning of the year, and then more,” said Belichick on Wednesday. “But it is what it is.”
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
