Patriots Designate Alex Austin for Return From Injured Reserve

Alex Austin began the season on the New England Patriots 53-man roster. He played sparingly in the first three games of the season, seeing only 14 snaps on defense. An injured ankle ruled Austin out for Week 4, and the Patriots placed him on injured reserve. Austin returned to practice on Wednesday, with New England designating him to return from IR.

The clock began for Austin to be activated to the 53-man roster on Wednesday. New England has 21 days to activate him or he must remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season. The Patriots could open up a roster spot by trading away a player before the NFL Trade Deadline on Nov. 5.

Austin came to New England on Nov. 2, 2023, a day after being released by the Houston Texans. The Patriots were his third team of 2023. The Buffalo Bills made Austin a seventh-round pick (No. 252 overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Also Read – Which New England Patriots Will Be Traded Before the Deadline?

Buffalo cut Austin at the end of training camp, and Houston claimed him off waivers. He played three games for the Texans. Austin signed with the Texans practice squad after they released him on Oct. 18. Two weeks later, he was released from the practice squad and signed with New England. He appeared in five games for the Patriots, recording nine tackles and an interception.

New England Patriots Cornerbacks

The Patriots have six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster: Isaiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial Jr., Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, and Marco Wilson. New England also has Alex Austin on IR and Miles Battle on their practice squad. Only Dial and Battle are new from last season’s squad. Cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino also returned from 2023.

During the offseason, Austin commented on how much more comfortable he was entering his second season in New England.

“I’m extremely comfortable,” said Austin. “Being able to come in every day, building camaraderie with the guys throughout the spring with OTAs, and then coming in training camp now, continuing that.”

Austin emphasized how much he enjoyed playing for Pelligrino.

“It’s been amazing,” Austin said of having Pellegrino as his positional coach. “Coach Mike [Pellegrino] is a guy who’s a players’ coach. He wants to do what’s going to make you comfortable and play fast.”

The New England Patriots look forward to seeing Alex Austin playing comfortably and fast on an NFL field once again before long.