Patriots release tight end Tim Wright

Tim Wright caught six touchdowns as the No. 2 tight end behind Rob Gronkowski last season, but his days in a Patriots uniform are over. Getty Images/Jim Rogash

By Jeff Pini @JeffPini

June 11, 2015

1 minute to read

Tim Wright’s tenure in New England is over after just one season.

The 25-year-old tight end has been released by the Patriots, the team announced on Thursday.

Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo first reported the news earlier in the day, citing an unnamed source. Garafolo’s report was later confirmed by The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin and ESPN’s Field Yates.

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Wright was traded to the Patriots last August in the deal that sent six-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After recording just four receptions over the first four weeks of the season, Wright went off Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, hauling in five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. Wright would go on to catch six touchdowns on the season, including two Week 12 against the Detroit Lions.

Wright’s role in the Patriots offense diminished over the final month of the year, however, as he caught just two passes over the Patriots’ final four games, while he didn’t log a single catch in any of the Patriots’ three playoff games.

In his career, Wright has totaled 80 catches for 830 yards and 11 touchdowns in two NFL seasons.

Wright’s release isn’t a huge surprise, given the sheer number of tight ends on the Patriots’ roster, which includes Scott Chandler, Fred Davis, A.J. Derby and Michael Hoomanawanui in addition to All-Pro Rob Gronkowski.