The Patriots are staring at a familiar problem at cornerback, and Alex Austin does not look like the clean fix.
New England went into its game against the Raiders missing four cornerbacks, including both starters. Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis had both been dealing with injuries in previous weeks, while rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada also missed the matchup. That left the Patriots especially thin at the position, even if the game itself turned into a blowout.
Marcus Jones, Charles Woods, and Kindle Vildor were the only rostered cornerbacks available, and the team also elevated safety Elliott Davison for added secondary depth. But leaning too hard on safeties in coverage is a dangerous game, and the Patriots had to live with depth pieces like Woods and Vildor outside. Gonzalez is expected back against the Jets, but as of Friday, New England still had three cornerbacks listed as questionable or out.
That raises the obvious question: do the Patriots turn to someone familiar?
They’ll be in a better spot at corner against the Jets than they were against the Raiders, but the injury list is still messy. Davis and Prunty have already been ruled out, Canada is questionable, and Jones and Woods were both limited in practice during the week.
The team also has rookie Al'zillion Hamilton on the practice squad after signing him the Wednesday before the Raiders game, though he had not yet been ready to play. If the situation gets worse, he could be the next man up.
The deeper issue is that New England may be thin, but it is not necessarily desperate enough to circle back to Austin. The 25-year-old was released by the Cowboys this past week after nearly three seasons with the Patriots.
A Bills draft pick, Austin first went to Houston before landing in New England with Bill Belichick’s 2024 team. He recorded his first and only career interception as a rookie, and it came against the team that drafted him.
His second season was mostly wiped out by injury. He appeared in just nine games and spent nearly two months on IR.
In year three, he contributed heavily on special teams and only saw defensive work in the first four weeks. During that stretch, he averaged 36 snaps per game, allowed a 76.9% completion rate, and gave up 158 yards.
His best work came on special teams, where he played 157 snaps, made five tackles, and posted a 78.6 PFF grade.
That’s the case for Austin, but it also points to the case against him. He helped Jeremy Springer's unit last season, yet he never turned that into a meaningful defensive role. He also didn’t seize the opportunity when Gonzalez opened the year on IR, and when he later missed time with an injury, Woods took over completely at CB4.
New England had a chance to keep him as a restricted free agent and passed. Austin later signed with the Dolphins, then wound up on the Cowboys’ practice squad after failing to make their roster. Even there, he couldn’t stick.
The Patriots may need cornerback help, but Austin may not be the answer they want. Miami is 0-5 and hasn’t led all year, yet its pass defense ranks 15th.
Dallas is 21st, and Austin still couldn’t lock down a job with either team. He has value as a special teamer, but that is not the exact role New England is trying to fill.
If the Patriots want to shop for another option, Jeff Okudah has already been floated as a practice squad possibility. He had a rough 2025 in Minnesota, but his length could help a secondary that struggled against Brock Bowers. Another name that could fit is Darnay Holmes, who is on Atlanta’s practice squad.
Austin has a spot in the league, but the Patriots’ decision to let him go in the spring is a strong hint that a Foxborough reunion is unlikely, especially since he didn’t log a defensive snap after Week 4 last season.
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