The New England Patriots released quarterback Matt Flynn who was signed last June to be the team's no. 3 quarterback behind Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo and signed quarterback Ryan Lindley. 

Flynn was mainly released because of his injuries starting training camp on the active/non-football injury list and according to ESPN, New England head coach Bill Belichick said Flynn never passed his medical. 

Meanwhile ESPN's Dianna Russini said Flynn was out of action due to a hamstring injury. 

The Patriots will open their preseason this Thursday against the Green Bay Packers and they cannot risk playing with only Garoppolo doing the quarterback duties because he might get injured and without another quarterback, they would have to play Brady which is something they would not want to do. 

So the Patriots are in need of another quarterback and since Flynn is hurt, the Patriots cannot wait any longer for him to recover and he was released. 

To fill in the void that Flynn left and to be the no. 3 quarterback, former Arizona Cardinals starter Ryan Lindley was signed by New England. 

There was no any information disclosed regarding Lindley's deal with the Patriots but it was reported to be for one season. 

Unfortunately, Lindley's numbers are not that impressive with his 10.9 total QBR in the Cardinals' lone playoff game last season being the second-lowest in a playoff game for the past five seasons according to ESPN. 

ESPN added that the 26-year-old's 48.4 completion percentage ranked last in the NFL in the 2014 season among all 47 quarterbacks who at least had 75 pass attempts. 

Despite his numbers, the Patriots still added Lindley with Belichick saying that they signed him because of his experience in the league already being part of a number of organizations. 

But the most important trait according to the Patriots head coach is that Lindley is healthy.