Pats release injured QB Matt Flynn, will sign ex-Cardinal Ryan Lindley
— -- FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots will release veteran quarterback Matt Flynn and sign former Cardinals signal-caller Ryan Lindley to a one-year deal, sources told ESPN.
The Patriots informed Flynn that he would be released Monday, a source told ESPN's Dianna Marie Russini. New England quickly found Flynn's replacement, however, with the planned acquisition of Lindley, a league source told ESPN's Field Yates.
Flynn, who signed a one-year deal in June to serve as New England's No. 3 quarterback behind Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo, had opened training camp on the active/non-football injury list. A hamstring injury kept him sidelined, according to Russini.
The Patriots' decision with Flynn -- who could return when healthy -- might be tied to Thursday's preseason opener against the Packers and the team's need for a third quarterback.
Although Garoppolo is expected to play a good number of the snaps, the team needs a contingency plan in the event of injury, and likely would want to avoid reinserting Brady into the game in that scenario. Lindley, a sixth-round draft pick in 2012, started Arizona's playoff loss last season to the Panthers and his 10.9 Total QBR in that game is the second-lowest total in a playoff game over the past five seasons.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Lindley's 48.4 completion percentage last season ranked dead last among 47 quarterbacks with at least 75 pass attempts.
Flynn has had two different stints with the Packers (2008 to 2011, 2013-14) while also spending time with the Seahawks (2012), Raiders (2013) and Bills (2013). He has seven career starts.
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