Mike ReeseESPN staff writer3 minutes to read
NE’s Kevin Harris finds the end zone with a 5-yard touchdown run
Kevin Harris scores a touchdown for the Patriots to give New England the lead.
Foxboro, Massachusetts – In depth-based trading, the The New England Patriots acquired offensive tackle Tyrone Whitley Jr. from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for running back Pierre Strong Jr. on Sunday.
The son of former Michigan standout and NFL quarterback Tyrone Whitley, Whitley will likely help meet the Patriots’ senior needs. Injuries and inconsistency up front have been a highlight of training camp and the preseason, and Wheatley is giving them an opportunity to grow in size (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) and strength.
Cleveland has had four players ahead of the 26-year-old Wheatley at offensive tackle, meaning he’s unlikely to make the 53-man roster, with no guarantee he’ll come off waivers to return to the practice squad. Wheatley has not yet appeared in a regular season NFL game.
Meanwhile, the Browns are in the market for a third straight time behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford, and Strong is likely to give them a quick supplement to their depth chart. The Patriots selected Strong in the fourth round of the 2022 draft from South Dakota State. He played sparingly on offense last season, totaling 10 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown, and seven receptions for 42 yards.
The Patriots have Ramonder Stephenson and Ezekiel Elliott atop the running back depth chart, and Strong was expected to serve in a backup role.
This deal is pending both players passing physicals and comes before all NFL teams must whittle down rosters to 53 players by the Tuesday 4 p.m. ET deadline.
Wheatley was injured during a fight at the Browns’ training camp on July 30, while Strong missed a week of training camp with a concussion.
ESPN Browns reporter Jake Trotter contributed to this story.
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