To shore up depth, the Patriots activated cornerback Alex Austin from injured reserve. In his third year, Austin appeared in 12 games with two starts earlier this season when Christian Gonzalez was sidelined. While he has allowed a 143.2 passer rating, his return provides needed depth as the CB5 and bolsters special teams. 🧰🛡️
New England also elevated running back D’Ernest Johnson and defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III from the practice squad to the active roster. Johnson, a 29-year-old veteran, adds versatility as RB3 behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson and contributes on returns. He’s tallied 13 rushing attempts for 25 yards and five returns for 128 yards across 103 NFL games, plus three playoff appearances. 🔄🏃♂️
Taylor has appeared in three games this season and logged 22 snaps last week against the Chargers; the Patriots hope Tonga’s return from a foot injury will limit the need for Taylor and Eric Gregory. Milton Williams is back and healthy, with Cory Durden also in the mix as a fourth defensive lineman. Coach Mike Vrabel talked about getting Tonga back this week, saying it will matter what Sunday holds and that Tonga could pick up where he left off as an interior rotational player. 🗣️🧱
Overall, the moves signal a push to strengthen cornerback depth, bolster the backfield, and reinforce the defensive line for a pivotal Sunday showdown. The goal is to maximize the roster’s versatility and fuel a late-season push toward a potential postseason run. ⚔️🏈
