The Patriots are getting Carlton Davis III back for Sunday’s Week 8 matchup with the Dolphins, but that doesn’t mean the cornerback room is suddenly settled.
Davis has already missed four games with a neck injury, and his absence has forced New England to lean harder on a secondary that has dealt with more than its share of wear and tear. Channing Canada, Karon Prunty and Charles Woods have all missed time over the last few weeks, and the result has been a unit that hasn’t consistently played at the level the Patriots expected when they added Davis in free agency last year.
That’s why a familiar name has surfaced as a possible solution: Alex Austin.
Austin was released earlier this month by the Cowboys and didn’t appear in a game for them this season, but he made it clear he’d be open to a return to New England after a Patriots fan asked him to “come home.”
“I miss y’all too!! Lord knows 🙏🏽”
Austin spent three seasons with the Patriots and was productive in their system, even if he never projected as a top corner. He looked like a player still climbing toward his prime, which made his departure harder to explain for some observers. And with injuries piling up in the secondary, his familiarity with the defense now looks especially useful.
The Patriots don’t need to panic, but the timing lines up. Their cap space situation and the shrinking odds of making a deadline trade make a low-cost signing more appealing, and Austin would fit that mold. He’d give them a game-day option who knows the scheme, can step in right away and offers more reliability than some of the current alternatives.
For a defense trying to hold together through injuries, that’s the kind of move that makes a lot of sense.
In Other News...
Patriots Just Got Another Week 8 Distraction From The NFL
Mike Vrabel has found himself in the middle of another league-side storyline just as the Patriots try to keep their focus on football. The NFL has been tightening its stance on coaches behavior toward officials, and Vrabel was among those caught up in the leagues push to curb sideline criticism during games, a reminder that the margins around the Patriots are not always confined to the field.
What makes this latest wrinkle especially annoying from New Englands perspective is the way it surfaced. The fine was not supposed to become a public talking point, but the details got out anyway, and Vrabel was reportedly unhappy about that part of it. For a team already trying to manage the noise around a crucial stretch, it is one more distraction the Patriots would rather not have hanging around. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Have A TreVeyon Henderson Decision Fans Didn't Expect
TreVeyon Hendersons place in the Patriots backfield has become a little murkier than anyone expected, with his role reportedly shrinking enough to spark outside chatter about what comes next. For a player the team viewed as part of its long-term plans, the sudden dip in usage has raised eyebrows, especially with New England still sorting out how it wants to distribute work in the run game.
The speculation has only grown because Henderson is still on a rookie deal, which makes him more than just a short-term depth piece in the eyes of the front office. Even with his reduced role and injury status in the mix, the Patriots have not exactly signaled they are eager to move on, so any real conversation would likely hinge on whether another team is willing to make a strong enough offer to get their attention. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face A Huge Christian Barmore Decision Before The Deadline
Christian Barmore has been a notable part of New Englands defensive front this season, even if his workload has not been full-time. The defensive tackle has played 41.9% of the Patriots defensive snaps and has produced six tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble, which is enough to make him one of the more interesting names to watch as the NFL trade deadline approaches.
The possibility here is less about production than about what the Patriots might be willing to do with their roster and cap sheet. Reports have suggested New England could listen on Barmore in an effort to create salary cap space, but nothing has been finalized, leaving his status in a holding pattern as the deadline nears. [Read more 🡒]