The New England Patriots needed to create room on their roster after making a transaction Tuesday, and that move came Wednesday.

The Patriots released wide receiver Lynn Bowden, per the NFL’s transaction wire. New England needed to create a spot on their roster after signing cornerback Tae Hayes if they were still going to make their three undrafted free agent signings official before this weekend’s rookie minicamp.

The Patriots are adding quarterback Malik Cunningham, tight end Johnny Lumpkin and linebacker/safety Jourdan Heilig as rookie free agents. Those moves have not been made official yet.

Bowden was a wide receiver, quarterback and punt and kick returner in college at Kentucky but was selected as a running back by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins before the 2020 season began.

Bowden joined the Patriots’ practice squad on Sept. 1, 2022 as a wide receiver and spent all of last season with the team. He signed a future contract Jan. 31. 

He has 28 career catches for 211 yards and nine rushes for 32 yards. He played one game with the Patriots in 2022 but didn’t amass any stats.

Bowden was competing for a roster spot with rookies Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas and veterans Tre Nixon and Raleigh Webb behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne.

It would have been fun to watch Bowden's versatility in OTAs, minicamp and training camp this spring and summer. There's still the possibility that New England could pick him back up after safety Devin McCourty's retirement is officially processed as long as another team doesn't claim or sign him.

Featured image via Eileen T. Meslar-USA TODAY Sports