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New England Patriots

New England Patriots

Jalen Reagor’s time with Patriots comes to a strange end

Author Matt Dolloff
Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Jalen Reagor (83) runs the ball during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Reagor is no longer with the New England Patriots after posting a cryptic message on Instagram.

Jalen Reagor didn’t seem happy with his status on the New England Patriots. And it turns out that the Pats weren’t happy with him.

The team announced Tuesday that they’re releasing Reagor from the practice squad, after the veteran wide receiver spent the first two weeks of the season there. Reagor originally signed with the Patriots during the 2023 season and played 11 games with one start. He caught only 7-of-23 targets, but for 138 yards, an impressive 19.7-yard average.

Despite showing promise late in 2023, Reagor struggled to gain momentum on the Patriots’ receiver depth chart over the course of 2024 training camp. He ended up released, then signed back to the practice squad. Apparently, Reagor didn’t seem to agree with his status in the organization.

MORE: Patriots-Seahawks Final Thoughts

That’s evidenced by a cryptic Instagram story that Reagor posted Tuesday, depicting just a photo of a fancy car parked at a dilapidated home, which has been a well-known internet meme in recent years. Reagor seems to be implying he’s the nice car that’s stuck in a bad situation.

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 31: Jalen Reagor #83 of the New England Patriots runs the kickoff back for a touchdown during the first quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 31, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images
Jalen Reagor (Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

However, Reagor didn’t exactly have a murderer’s row of receivers to beat out in camp. The Patriots are left with DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Kayshon Boutte, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker on the roster, and Matt Landers on the practice squad, after releasing Reagor. Frankly, he has no one to blame but himself for being unable to make progress in New England.

Reagor’s next team will be his fourth, in at least five seasons, after being selected 21st overall in the 2020 NFL Draft – infamously, one pick before the Vikings took All-Pro Justin Jefferson. Considering the Instagram post, which ostensibly got him fired, for all intents and purposes, some introspection might be needed before he plays football again.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.

Patriots Ups & Downs: Who stood out in a loss to the Seahawks?

The New England Patriots are 1-1 on the 2024 season after a 23-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Here are eight players who stood out in the game, based on their performance on the field…

UP: TE Hunter Henry

The Patriots wasted the best game of Henry’s career. The veteran tight end caught 8-of-12 targets for a career-high 109 yards, including a 35-yard catch-and-run from Jacoby Brissett.

If the Patriots want to impact the game through the air, they’re going to need a meaningful contribution from Henry every single week. He showed on Sunday how much better the offense can look just by getting the ball in his hands.

DOWN: TE Austin Hooper

Hooper isn’t here because of his work on offense, although he was only targeted once for five yards. He’s the first “DOWN” because the Seahawks’ Julian Love blew by him to block a field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter.

The three points would’ve given the Patriots a 23-17 lead in the closing minutes, and possibly helped them close out a win. That was the Patriots’ first major special teams miscue of the season, and it really cost them. Something to clean up for next week.

  • UP: RB Antonio Gibson

    New England Patriots on X (formerly Twitter): "GIBSON GETTING AWAYYY 🏃💨📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/uIRHhirEMJ / X"

    GIBSON GETTING AWAYYY 🏃💨📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/uIRHhirEMJ

    The Patriots offense let Gibson down in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. The veteran running back should have delivered a kill shot of sorts when he broke multiple tackles en route to a 45-yard run that put the Pats well into Seattle territory. Instead, the offense went backward from there and the Seahawks clawed their way back into the game. But, Gibson is off the hook for this game. He’s running hard and making dynamic plays with the ball in his hands.

  • DOWN: CB Christian Gonzalez

    Seattle Seahawks on X (formerly Twitter): "WIDE OPEN @dkm14 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rHIeaVSkOL / X"

    WIDE OPEN @dkm14 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rHIeaVSkOL

    Gonzalez covered D.K. Metcalf for most of the game, and in 1-on-1 matchups he allowed three catches for 24 yards on seven targets. But he and Kyle Dugger had what he described as a “miscommunication” when Metcalf blew right through both of them and streaked wide open down the field, as he hauled in an easy 56-yard touchdown catch from Smith.

    Dugger took responsibility for checking into a bad play, but Gonzalez was the one covering Metcalf most of the time, so it’s hard to let the second-year corner off the hook. He can’t give up any plays that big if the Patriots want to win games this season.

  • UP: DE Keion White

    New England Patriots on X (formerly Twitter): "Coming at you from every angle 💪📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/M0r0MhKMWY / X"

    Coming at you from every angle 💪📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/M0r0MhKMWY

    Another strong game for White, who put the loss on his own shoulders after the game in a sign of maturity and leadership. But White was again disruptive up front, finishing with 1.5 sacks, two QB hits, and seven tackles. The Patriots’ problem up front isn’t White, but that they seem to lack impactful secondary pass-rushers aside from him.

  • DOWN: LT Vederian Lowe

    Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

    Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe sacks New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett. (Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)

    Pressure off the left edge was a problem all afternoon for the Patriots, and quarterback Jacoby Brissett mostly did a good-enough job to mitigate the damage. That was until he took a 9-yard sack in the fourth quarter on the play before the blocked field goal try. Lowe wasn’t the only player that allowed pressure on that play, but he was the most consistently troublesome offensive lineman out there.

  • UP: P Bryce Baringer

    New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye (13) reacts with New England Patriots punter Bryce Baringer (17) in the third quarter of the NFL game at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. Photo Credit: Albert Cesare/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

    New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye (13) reacts with New England Patriots punter Bryce Baringer (17) in the third quarter of the NFL game at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. Photo Credit: Albert Cesare/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

    Baringer is off to a great start this season, one of the few Patriots to string together two strong performances. He averaged 57 yards per punt, with a long of 67, three pinned inside the 20-yard line, and only one touchback in six tries.

  • DOWN: CB Marco Wilson

    Patriots LATAM on X (formerly Twitter): "¿Les pareció DPI de Marco Wilson o era inatrapable?#SEAvsNE pic.twitter.com/y3ZlR1gKPF / X"

    ¿Les pareció DPI de Marco Wilson o era inatrapable?#SEAvsNE pic.twitter.com/y3ZlR1gKPF

    Wilson got flagged for defensive pass interference for the second straight game, mugging the Seahawks’ Tyler Lockett in the end zone on third-and-6, gifting Seattle first-and-goal from the 1-yard line and an easy touchdown run on the next play. One could argue that the pass attempt was not catchable, and therefore not a worthy penalty, but all Wilson needed to do was look back for the ball, and he didn’t do it. Don’t give the officials a reason to throw the flag.

    We didn’t see much of Wilson for the rest of the game. The Patriots may have to consider a new depth chart at cornerback.

Matt, a North Andover, Massachusetts native, has been with The Sports Hub since 2010. Growing up the son of Boston University All-American and Melrose High School hall-of-fame hockey player Steve Dolloff, sports was always a part of his life. After attending Northeastern University, Matt focused his love of sports on writing, extensively writing about all four major Boston teams. He also is a co-host of the Sports Hub Underground podcast and is a regular on-air contributor on the Sports Hub. Matt writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.

NEXT: Patriots defense dealt major blow with new injury update

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