Both players can return to the Patriots if they go unclaimed.
New England Patriots linebacker Dane Fletcher (52) is tended to on the field during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints in Foxborough, Mass. Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Fletcher left the game with a lower body injury and did not return.FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots waived linebacker Dane Fletcher and receiver Britt Davis on Monday.
Both players suffered injuries in Thursday’s preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints, so both can return to New England if they go unclaimed.
The team reached an injury settlement with Davis, who injured his shoulder after scoring a touchdown. He will not be eligible to return to the Patriots until after the sixth week of the season.
Fletcher, a backup linebacker who suffered a torn ACL, can immediately return and be placed on injured reserve if he goes unclaimed by the other 31 teams.
Fletcher's release was first reported by the Boston Globe.
We covered Fletcher's injury situation in depth over the weekend.