FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -The New England Patriots announced that they have released DB Derek Cox, DB Justin Green and LB DJ Lynch.Â
Cox, 28, was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on June 8, 2015. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder, is a veteran of five NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2009-12) and the San Diego Chargers (2013). He originally entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick by Jacksonville in 2009 out of William & Mary. He has played in 63 NFL games with 56 starts and has accumulated 204 total tackles, 13 interceptions and 39 passes defensed. After being released by San Diego on March 4, 2014, Cox went to training camp with Minnesota after joining the Vikings on March 16, 2014. He was released by Minnesota on Aug. 25, 2014, signed by Baltimore on Aug. 27, 2014 and then released by the Ravens on Aug. 30, 2014.Â
Green, 24, originally signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Illinois on July 21, 2013. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder, spent the majority of his rookie season on the practice squad with two stints on the 53-man roster. He played in two regular season games in 2013 but did not register any tackles. Green went to training camp with the Patriots last summer but was traded to Dallas in exchange for DE Ben Bass on Aug. 13, 2014. The Cowboys released Green prior to the start of the season. He was re-signed by New England to the practice squad on Dec. 3, 2014.Â
Lynch, 22, was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Bowling Green on June 11, 2015. The 6-foot, 252-pounder, played in 48 games with 26 starts at Bowling Green and finished with 230 total tackles. He had his best season as a junior in 2013 when he started all 14 games and was named All-MAC after finishing with a team-high of 83 total tackles.
