Mohamed Sanu's time with the Patriots will be coming to an end one way or another. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Patriots intend to release WR Mohamed Sanu, could trade him

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/2/20

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that the New England Patriots have informed wide receiver Mohamed Sanu that the team intends to release him.

Rapoport added the transaction won't be official until Thursday and that the Patriots could look for a last-minute trade partner:

The release won’t be in time for today’s wire, and we’ve seen examples of teams who ended up trading players they intended to release. With so many WR-needy teams, Mohamed Sanu is one to watch. https://t.co/DiL73ANdfV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 2, 2020

Last October, the Atlanta Falcons traded the veteran wideout to New England for a second-round draft pick at a time when quarterback Tom Brady, then with the Patriots, was lacking weapons. Sanu caught 26 of 47 targets for 207 receiving yards with one touchdown in eight regular-season appearances following the trade.

He reeled-in one of five passes for 11 yards in New England's postseason loss to the Tennessee Titans.

As ESPN's Mike Reiss wrote, Sanu, 31, became expendable because he was scheduled to earn $6.5 million while existing below Julian Edelman and N'Keal Harry on the depth chart and among the receiving options for quarterback Cam Newton.

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