The Patriots have begun the process of getting their roster down to 53 players.
According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, the team has informed veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel he's being released.
The former Jets lineman was signed as a free agent this offseason, but hasn't climbed the depth chart much this summer. He was on the field in the closing minutes in last Thursday's third preseason game, which was a sign he wasn't going to make it.
Pennel's contract was worth up to $3.9 million this year, and they have already paid him $600,000. There's some dead cap money, but not enough to make it worth keeping him around. Releasing him now likely gives him a chance to catch on with another team sooner rather than later.
The Patriots interior defensive line now has Danny Shelton, Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, David Parry and Byron Cowart.
