The New England Patriots released offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor ahead of his looming NFL free agency in March.

Okorafor was signed by the Patriots last March to a one-year deal. He was expected to serve as the veteran left tackle for a team that failed to make a big signing at the position in free agency. However, he struggled in the team’s opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and was benched in the middle of the game.

The New England Patriots are set to release former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Chuks Okorafor on Monday, according to a report by Field Yates of ESPN.

The Patriots plan to release veteran offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, according to an ESPN report. Okorafor left the organization in September after getting benched early in a win at Cincinnati. The Patriots subsequently placed Okorafor on the reserve/left squad list,

A month away from NFL free agency, Chukwuma Okorafor will be getting a head start. The New England Patriots released the veteran offensive tackle on Monday, as reported by ESPN’s Field Yates and later processed on the transaction wire.

Chukwuma Okorafor‘s time with the Patriots has come to a predictable end. ESPN’s Field Yates reports that the organization has released the offensive tackle.