The Patriots don't have to trim their roster to 75 players until Tuesday at 4 p.m., but on Thursday they got a head start.
The team announced it released offensive lineman Mark Asper, defensive tackle Antonio Johnson and linebacker Cameron Gordon. Gordon's agent tweeted earlier in the day that his client had been waived.
The Patriots also waived tight end Jake Bequette with an injury designation. The former third-round pick out of Arkansas attempted to make the transition from defensive end to tight end during the spring and summer, and he appeared to make progress as a sizable target (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) with relatively dependable hands as a receiver. He suffered an injury in camp, however, and did not appear in either of the team's first two preseason games.
Bequette was drafted in 2012 and appeared in eight regular-season games over his first two seasons. He was released at the end of training camp last year and later signed with the team as a member of the practice squad.
If Bequette goes unclaimed on the waiver wire, he'll either land on New England's season-ending injured reserve list or reach an injury settlement with the team.
The Patriots now have 84 players on their 90-man roster as they prepare to take on the Carolina Panthers in their third preseason game Friday.