Report: Patriots Place Jordan Matthews On Injured Reserve
BOSTON (CBS) -- Shortly after it was reported that Jordan Matthews was working through a "significant" injury, the Patriots have closed the book on the wide receiver's 2018 season with the team.
The Patriots placed Matthews on injured reserve on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Field Yates.
The Patriots wound up placing WR Jordan Matthews on injured reserve, per source. He could negotiate an injury settlement and eventually become a free agent. For now, he does not count towards their 90-man roster.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 1, 2018
Earlier in the day, The Boston Globe had reported that the team had released Matthews. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on the severity of Matthew's hamstring injury earlier Wednesday, noting that it was "significant."
There were some high hopes that Matthews could fill some of the void left by the offseason departures of Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola, but the 26-year-old suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday and has been out of action ever since.
The 6-foot-3, 212-pound receiver, whom the Patriots signed over the offseason, was very productive in his first three years in the NFL as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, when he averaged 75 receptions and 891 yards per year, while catching 19 touchdowns. Last year in Buffalo those numbers dipped a bit, with Matthews catching just 25 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown in 10 games for the Bills.
The Patriots reportedly worked out free agent receiver Eric Decker on Monday. Malcolm Mitchell remains in recovery from his knee injury, while Kenny Britt is on the PUP list with a hamstring injury of his own. Julian Edelman is suspended for the first four games of the season, which leaves Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett and newcomer Cordarrelle Patterson as the healthy receivers.