Patriots OT Chukwuma Okorafor informed team he was leaving, placed on exempt/left squad list

BOSTON — One week after being benched for poor play in the Patriots’ season opener, offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor was placed on the team’s “exempt/left squad” list Saturday.

Okorafor informed the team he was leaving, per a source. That’s unlike last season, when quarterback Matt Corral left the team without notice before being placed on the exempt/left squad list.

The team’s understanding is that this is not a temporary decision for Okorafor, who has been “checked out mentally over the past month or so.”

The Patriots also elevated guard Michael Jordan from the practice squad. Jordan started the Patriots’ Week 1 win over the Bengals and played all 64 snaps as a practice squad elevation.

Jordan cannot be elevated from the practice squad again.

Okorafor was in the Patriots’ locker room as recently as Friday. He was benched 12 plays into the team’s Week 1 win over the Bengals for Vederian Lowe on Sunday.

Placing Okorafor on the exempt/left squad list opens a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster.

Okorafor signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Patriots after being released by the Steelers. A career right tackle, he played both sides in training camp but was forced to start at left tackle in Week 1 after Lowe suffered an abdomen injury late in training camp.

Lowe practiced just once before replacing Okorafor against the Bengals. Okorafor, who earned a 0.0 pass-blocking grade in Week 1, allowed three pressures in just six pass-blocking snaps while Lowe allowed three pressures in 23 opportunities.

With Okorafor off the 53-man roster, the Patriots are left with Lowe, starting right tackle Mike Onwenu, rookie Caedan Wallace and waiver-wire pickup Demontrey Jacobs at tackle.

The Patriots also have tackle Caleb Jones on their practice squad. Zach Thomas, who was claimed off waivers last month from the Rams, has history at tackle but has started his Patriots career at guard.