The New England Patriots waived LaBryan Ray on Friday after the defensive lineman from Alabama spent his rookie NFL season with the team.

An undrafted rookie, Ray stuck with New England as a practice-squad member after playing 102 defensive snaps in three preseason games.

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On Oct. 26, the Patriots placed Ray on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, and he finished the season there.

Ray signed a reverse/future contract with New England on Jan. 10, reserving a spot with the Patriots when NFL team rosters expand to 90 players on March 15. Now if he clears waivers, Ray will become a free agent.

Ray came to Alabama from James Clemens High School in Madison after winning the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 7A Lineman of the Year Award in 2015 and 2016.

Ray was the second former Alabama prep standout waived by the Patriots this week. On Wednesday, New England waived cornerback Tae Hayes, and the Decatur High School alumnus became a free agent on Thursday.

In 2022, his fourth year as a pro, Hayes was a starting cornerback for the USFL champion Birmingham Stallions, got on the field for 38 defensive snaps and 16 special-teams plays in five games for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and 32 defense snaps in two games for New England.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.