FOXBORO — Patriots rookie cornerback Alex Austin beginning in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs is a good instance of how generally the best-laid plans go awry.
Austin was thrust right into a shock beginning function Sunday when J.C. Jackson was lively however didn’t seem on the Patriots’ sideline in the course of the recreation. His agent, Neil Schwartz, advised ESPN that Jackson is coping with psychological well being points. The cornerback was positioned on the non-football sickness record Tuesday.
The Patriots stored seven cornerbacks on their preliminary 53-man roster, and Austin and Jackson weren’t even included within the group. Yet, Austin was beginning throughout from Jonathan Jones on the primary snap of Sunday’s recreation towards one of the best quarterback within the NFL.
“I think it’s always tough having new guys roll through and not necessarily figure out what they do best but trying to help them with their skillset and try to put them in the best position to do it,” cornerback Myles Bryant stated Wednesday concerning the turnover at cornerback. “It’s been tough, but at the same time it’s been good. I think we’ve had a good group of guys that come in. They’re willing to learn from Coach Mike (Pellegrino) and vets. … I think it’s kind of shown in the past few weeks with guys stepping up and being able to fill in those voids.”
Only three of these authentic seven gamers stay on the crew’s 53-man roster. Christian Gonzalez was positioned on injured reserve after Week 4 with a season-ending shoulder harm. Marcus Jones can also be on injured reserve with a shoulder harm. Rookie Ameer Speed was waived and claimed by the Colts. And Jack Jones was waived and claimed by the Raiders.
That leaves Jonathan Jones, Myles Bryant and Shaun Wade among the many authentic seven cornerbacks. The crew added Jackson in a commerce with the Chargers, with whom he had worn out his welcome in simply over 18 months, in October. Austin, who the Bills chosen within the seventh spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft, joined the crew after being lower from the Texans’ follow squad in November. He made his Patriots debut in Week 14.
“It’s part of it, but just fight for consistency,” Jonathan Jones stated Wednesday of the difficulties that so many transferring items current at cornerback. “Injuries are a part of it, trades, whatever the situation may be. That’s a part of it. You just try to stay consistent.”
Jonathan Jones has handled ankle and knee accidents and missed three video games earlier this summer time. Wade was a wholesome scratch Sunday for the reason that Patriots anticipated Jackson to play as of 11:30 a.m. ET.
Bryant, who’s the crew’s major slot cornerback however has additionally manned roles exterior, at security and on particular groups, is the one cornerback on the roster to have performed each recreation.
“He’s been valuable every year,” head coach Bill Belichick stated of Bryant on Wednesday morning. “Returning punts. Playing in the kicking game. Playing outside. Playing inside. Same thing last year. He’s one of our most versatile players and he’s able to handle a lot of different responsibilities. He’s had to and he’s done a good job.”
The 5-foot-9, 192-pound defender has earned a career-high PFF grade this season. He’s additionally performed essentially the most snaps of his profession whereas permitting 52 catches on 64 targets for 519 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The cornerback, who’s much-maligned on social media by subsets of Patriots followers, leads the crew with two compelled fumbles and 4 move breakups. He’s PFF’s highest-graded cornerback as a run defender.
The Patriots’ protection ranks 14th in anticipated factors added (EPA) per play towards this season. They’re twenty first in dropback EPA per play. While clearly, that doesn’t look nice in a vacuum, it’s far more spectacular when contemplating they’re down 4 cornerbacks and their greatest total defensive participant in Matthew Judon, who’s additionally on injured reserve with a torn biceps.
On paper, the Patriots’ greatest cornerback mixture this season would have been Gonzalez and Jack Jones on the skin and Jonathan Jones within the slot. But that trio by no means performed collectively this season. Jack Jones started the yr on injured reserve and didn’t return till Gonzalez was already harm.
Off-field points lastly brought on the Patriots to half methods with Jones, who was arrested within the offseason on gun expenses and benched for lacking curfew on the crew lodge previous to Week 9. He failed to enhance his angle within the Patriots’ journey to Germany in Week 10, per a supply, and was lower after the sport.
All of that had led Jonathan Jones to proceed taking part in exterior this season. He ranks thirtieth out of 129 certified cornerbacks with a 72.1 PFF grade — his highest mark since 2020.
The Patriots will head into Denver with Jonathan Jones, Bryant, Austin and Wade as the one cornerbacks on their 53-man roster. They have extra depth through their follow squad in Breon Borders, Azizi Hearn and William Hooper.
The Patriots stored insurance coverage as they headed into the season. There was no actual certainty concerning Jack Jones’ standing, and Gonzalez was nonetheless an unknown commodity regardless of the crew utilizing a first-round choose on him. Gonzalez wound up being unbelievable by way of 4 video games earlier than happening for the season. And regardless of taking part in it protected, accidents nonetheless plagued the Patriots at cornerback in 2023.
Source: www.bostonherald.com