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FOXBORO - According to various media reports, the Patriots are about to cut loose their presumed backup quarterback, Kevin O'Connell.

ESPN.com and the Boston Globe reported Sunday afternoon that the Patriots had informed O'Connell, their third-round draft choice in 2008 out of San Diego State, that he would be waived, presumably with the cuts required on Tuesday to bring the team down to the 75-player limit mandated by the NFL.

O'Connell, the 94th player selected in the 2008 draft, served as the backup to Matt Cassel after the latter succeeded the injured Tom Brady in last year's regular-season opener against Kansas City. He saw action in two games and completed four of six passes for 23 yards, being sacked once for 2 yards.

The Patriots had yet to confirm the media reports of O'Connell's pending release by 7 p.m. Sunday.

O'Connell had not performed well in the preseason. He completed 12 of 26 passes for 108 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions for a 25.8 passer rating. He had been sacked once, and both of his interceptions came in the 27-24 win at Washington on Friday night after he entered the game in the third quarter. O'Connell's early entry into Friday's game came after Brady had been smothered on a pass attempt by the Redskins' Albert Haynesworth, causing Brady to suffer what the Patriots are calling a "sore" right, throwing shoulder. Various sources have reported that Brady's supposed injury is not serious, although the team has offered no confirmation.

If O'Connell is indeed released, that leaves the Patriots with former Oakland backup Andrew Walter and undrafted rookie free agent Brian Hoyer as Brady's backups. It also suggests that coach Bill Belichick may be in the market for another veteran backup as teams begin to reduce their rosters on Tuesday.

O'Connell threw for 7,689 yards (664-1,151) in four seasons at San Diego State, also posting 1,312 rushing yards.