Once viewed as a possible heir apparent to Nate Solder at left tackle, Antonio Garcia will be headed to the waiver wire without playing a down as a Patriot.
New England plans to cut the second-year tackle with a non-football injury designation, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Blood-clot issues kept Garcia off the field as a rookie.
The Patriots traded up to take Garcia with the No. 85 overall pick last year. But the Troy product not being able to see the field as a rookie clouded his status, and the New England tackle corps looks different than it did before draft weekend. The defending AFC champions selected Isaiah Wynn in the first round this year and subsequently traded for 49ers starter Trent Brown.
They re-signed LaAdrian Waddle and have Marcus Cannon returning from injury, but there is less clarity beyond Wynn at left tackle. Garcia started for 3 1/2 years at left tackle for the Trojans. He didn’t allow a sack as a senior and became a Day 2 prospect.