The Patriots made a pair of transactions today ahead of their matchup tomorrow with the Seahawks. One of those transactions was essentially an announcement as offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor was placed on the exempt/left squad list, per Patriots staff writer Evan Lazar. 
According to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, Okorafor informed the team that he would be leaving. As Kyed puts it, “the team’s understanding is that this is not a temporary decision” as Okorafor “has been checked out mentally over the past month or so.” These events must have taken place in the last 24 hours or so as Okorafor was present in the locker room yesterday. This is the second year in a row that New England has seen a player voluntarily walk away, though quarterback Matt Corral did not give notice of his departure before leaving the team last season.
After six years of playing right tackle for the Steelers, Okorafor was asked to step in as a left tackle for New England in 2024 after the departure of Trent Brown this offseason. In 12 snaps of football during the team’s Week 1 game against the Bengals, Okorafor was asked to pass block six times. In those six passing snaps, Okorafor allowed three quarterback pressures. He was quickly replaced by Vederian Lowe, who played on the first-team offense for the remainder of the game.
Lowe seems to be the next man up as the Patriots move forward without Okorafor. A former sixth-round pick for the Vikings in 2022, Lowe was traded to the Patriots last year for a 2024 sixth-rounder and made eight starts in 11 games for New England at both left and right tackle. The swingman will once again be asked to step into a starting role.
In addition to placing Okorafor on the exempt/left squad list, the team also called up offensive guard Michael Jordan as a standard gameday practice squad elevation for the second straight week. Jordan was promoted in Week 1 as the Patriots expected starting guard Sidy Sow to miss the game with an ankle injury. Jordan ended up starting the game and playing all 64 snaps at left guard. With Sow expected to miss this week’s game, as well, Jordan could be lined up with the first-team offense, once again.
Practice squad players can only be called up as gameday elevations twice, so if the team has plans to start, or even play, Jordan any more after this week, they will need to sign him to the active roster. After doing so, they can still cut Jordan and return him to the practice squad, where he can be called up twice again.
Bad player, bad signing
I wouldn’t say he’s a bad player he is in the NFL and they are asking him to do a lot by switching over to left tackle they should’ve kept him at right then tried everyone at left if keep MO at guard was the plane
No he’s bad and those types of players exist in the NFL
No, Okorafor hasn’t been great. Unfortunately for New England, neither has Lowe.
That said, I hope that there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with Okorafor. If he just quit, well, that’s one thing, but I hope that he’s mentally okay otherwise.
You’re right, he’s not bad, he’s awful!
Never been a good player but really feel for him. Hope he is doing okay mentally obviously stepping away like this is never a good sign
They probably told him he wasn’t suiting up tomorrow so he took his binky and went home it’s the only thing that makes sense y he wasn’t there today but was all week
Good thing he got out before MJ showed up to bully his soft ass.
Chuks…Buddy,
Buy a townhouse and a Toyota Camry.
Good luck.
Argue with Tomlin and within two years your career is pretty much over.
As I’ve stated before in this forum, I think Tomlin is one of the best at handling players. He’s loyal to his guys but when you decide to put yourself ahead of the team then you’ve crossed the line and Mike will send you on your way. That’s how it should be.