`The New England Patriots signed Chukwuma (Chuks) Okorafor to a 1-year, $4 million contract worth up to $8.25 million in playing-time incentives to replace Trent Brown, who signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, as the starting left tackle. Chuks competed against Vederian Lowe for the starting job throughout the offseason and ultimately got the start in Week 1. However, things didn’t work out in his first career start on the left side.
Okorafor played the first drive and a half of the game. Chuks struggled to contain the Bengals’ elite EDGE rusher, Trey Hendrickson. He surrendered three pressures, two hurries, and one hit in 12 (six pass-blocking and six run-blocking) snaps. The Patriots benched Chuks in favor of Vederian Lowe for the remainder of the game.
The New England Patriots placed their free-agent acquisition on the left squad list ahead of Week 2
Chukwuma Okorafor informed the Patriots’ front office last Saturday that he would be stepping away from football as he reconsiders whether he still wants to play in the National Football League. Reports suggest Chuks had “checked out mentally” over the past few months. The Patriots proceeded to place him on the reserve/ left squad list.
He might not return to the Patriots this season.
Chuks Okorafor might not return this season
Sources have told Mike Reiss of ESPN NFL Nation that Chuks is not expected to continue playing for the Patriots. Reiss also notes that Okorafor will forfeit his maximum of $4.25 million in playtime incentives by not playing. If he played 50% of offensive snaps, he would have received $850,000, and an additional $850,000 if he played 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90% of snaps, totaling $4.25 million.
“Veteran left tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, who was pulled after 12 snaps in the season opener and didn’t return, was placed on the exempt/left squad list Saturday,” Reiss said. “That means the team receives a roster exemption until Okorafor’s status is finalized, with sources close to the situation not expecting him to play for the Patriots this season.”
“Okorafor also could have earned an additional $4.25 million in incentives, which would have paid him $850,000 for hitting 50% of the snaps, then another $850,000 for 60%, 70%, 80% and 90%.”
Jerod Mayo checked in on him to make sure he was doing alright
“I called him, and it had everything to do with the man,” Mayo said. “I wanted to make sure that he was good, in a good space and really considering and taking into consideration that this is what he wanted to do.
“But once again, I look at these as long-term relationships and care more about the individual than anything else.”
