Meet the Newest New England Patriot: Alex Austin

Alex Austin has signed with the New England Patriots, the team announced. This now gives New England 53 players on their 53-man roster. There had been an open spot after injured WR Kendrick Bourne was placed on IR following his ACL injury.

Alex Austin was a seventh round pick (252 overall) of the Buffalo Bills in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was part of Buffalo’s final cuts, likely with the plan on bringing him back to their practice squad. But the Houston Texans claimed Austin and signed him to their active roster.

Austin appeared in three games for Houston this season before being released on Oct. 14.  The Texans signed him to their practice squad, but he was released from the practice squad on Nov. 1. The next day he was practicing with the Patriots.

The 6-foot-1, 191 pound defensive back went to Oregon State.  He started his final two years for the Beavers. That made Alex Austin a cross-state rival of his new Patriots teammate Christian Gonzalez, the former Oregon Duck.