Patriots release DE Gerri Green from the practice squad, expected to sign LB Scooby Wright III

The New England Patriots are making a minor tweak to their practice squad on Friday.

According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, the Patriots are moving on from defensive end Gerri Green, who the team had signed to the practice squad following his release from the Indianapolis Colts during final cuts for NFL teams. To replace him, the team is apparently targeting Scooby Wright III.

The Patriots informed practice-squad DE Gerri Green that they are releasing him today. Green was a player they targeted after the final roster cutdown to bring in from the Colts. That opens a practice-squad spot, which LB Scooby Wright III appears targeted to fill.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 20, 2019

Green (6-4, 252 pounds) was a sixth-round pick out of Mississippi State who recorded 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in his final two years at the school. He showed off his athletic upside at the NFL Combine, clocking a 4.63-second time in the 40-yard dash while also recording 24 bench press reps. The Patriots were likely trying to tap into that and that's why they targeted him after cuts.

Green's likely replacement, Wright, played in the NFL from 2016-17 after going undrafted out of Arizona. Wright had 15 sacks and 100 tackles as a sophomore in 2014 before a variety of injuries derailed his career. He never caught on at the NFL level and spent time with the Arizona Hotshots in the short-lived AAF before joining the Patriots during the 2019 offseason.

The Patriots will hope that Wright can regain some of the magic that he had in college as a hybrid linebacker who can rush the passer.

Wright will join Calvin Munson and Terez Hall as the other linebackers on the Patriots' 10-man practice squad.