Ahead of their visit to the San Francisco 49ers, the New England Patriots have made several roster moves, highlighted by a change at cornerback.
Cornerback Alex Austin has been placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury that kept him out of practice all week. Austin, a 23-year-old Oregon State product, had appeared in eight games with the Patriots, logging one interception and nine tackles since joining the team in November. The seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft had previous stints with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans.
In response to Austin’s injury, the Patriots promoted Isaiah Bolden from the practice squad to the active roster. Bolden, a 24-year-old cornerback and return specialist, was originally drafted by New England in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. After spending time on injured reserve during his rookie preseason, Bolden is now set to make his first regular-season appearance. He brings a bigger frame at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, having played at Florida State and Jackson State.
Additionally, the Patriots elevated tight end Mitchell Wilcox and defensive tackle Trysten Hill from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Wilcox, a former Cincinnati Bengals tight end, brings experience to the offense, having appeared in 48 games over three seasons. Hill, a second-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2019, will provide depth on the defensive line after appearing in the season opener.
In other news, offensive tackle Vederian Lowe and guard Michael Jordan were ruled out for the matchup at Levi’s Stadium. The Patriots, looking to bounce back from their early-season struggles, will face off against the 49ers at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.
The New England Patriots will head to the West Coast shorthanded for their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, as three key players have been officially ruled out: offensive tackle Vederian Lowe, guard Michael Jordan, and cornerback Alex Austin. All three were non-participants in practices leading up to the game and will be unavailable against the reigning NFC champions.
In addition to these absences, four other Patriots players are listed as questionable, including linemen Caedan Wallace and Sidy Sow. Their availability will likely be a game-time decision as the Patriots look to field the healthiest lineup possible for the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff at Levi’s Stadium.
Here’s a summary of the Patriots’ game statuses:
Out:
– Vederian Lowe (Offensive Tackle)
– Michael Jordan (Guard)
– Alex Austin (Cornerback)
Questionable:
– Caedan Wallace (Offensive Line)
– Sidy Sow (Offensive Line)
The Patriots face a tough challenge against a strong 49ers squad and will need to overcome these injuries as they aim to secure a key road victory.
Caedan Wallace, the New England Patriots’ rookie offensive tackle, made his first career start at left tackle in last week’s AFC East matchup at MetLife Stadium. However, he was forced to leave after 38 snaps due to a knee injury. Wallace, a third-round pick from Penn State in the 2024 NFL Draft, has returned to practice in a limited capacity throughout the week, giving hope for his availability. Similarly, guard Sidy Sow, who started 13 games as a rookie last season, has also been practicing on a limited basis as he works his way back from an ankle injury suffered in the preseason finale.
Defensive starters Anfernee Jennings and Jonathan Jones round out the Patriots’ list of questionable players, both dealing with shoulder injuries but participating in practice in a limited role.
On the positive side, key Patriots players like tight end Hunter Henry, right tackle Mike Onwenu, cornerback Christian Gonzalez, and safety Jabrill Peppers have all been cleared from the injury report, ensuring their participation in Sunday’s game.
For the 49ers, quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle have been cleared to play without any injury designations. However, there is some concern surrounding San Francisco’s 11-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, who missed practice on Friday due to a toe injury, and his availability will be closely monitored.
The Patriots will need to lean on their healthy players to take on a formidable 49ers team, with both sides dealing with key injuries ahead of the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff at Levi’s Stadium.
