The New England Patriots had to move below the NFL’s 85-man roster limit by Tuesday afternoon, and they accomplished that goal by making three moves. Punter Jake Julien was released, while a pair of veteran cornerbacks was sent to injured reserve: Malcolm Butler and Joejuan Williams.
The Butler and Williams transactions in particular are noteworthy. While neither was guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster after playing mostly depth roles in training camp thus far, their status as two of the most prominent players in the cornerback room warrants special attention.
So, let’s take a look at what moving them to IR means for the Patriots.