According to a source, Alex Austin will make his pro debut tomorrow with a role on defense.
Multiple sources told The Patriots Beat that Austin had a good week of practice and has made his mark on the team already.
Austin, 22, joined the NFL as a seventh-round pick by the Buffalo Bills this year. The defensive back saw action in all three of the Bill’s preseason games, recording eight tackles. The Bills let the Oregon State product go ahead of the roster cutdown deadline.
However, it wasn’t long until a new team picked up Austin, as the Houston Texans claimed him on waivers. The 6-foot-1, 191-pounder made his regular season debut with the Texans and appeared in three games for Houston but didn’t register any statistics. Austin has experience in the kicking game, and he saw special teams snaps in all three games he played. Although his time in Houston was cut short with the Texans, releasing him on November 1. The Patriots picked him up shortly after and signed him to the practice squad.
Part of the reason Austin was signed to the team was because of the injury depleted secondary. Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones both suffered season-ending injuries. Meanwhile, Jonathan Jones and Jack Jones have also missed time due to health. Additionally, it was reported earlier in the week–and later confirmed by Bill Belichic–that J.C. Jackson didn’t travel to Germany amid personal and performance concerns. Austin will join Shaun Wade and Myles Braynt on the cornerback depth chart.
When Austin talked to the media last week, he shared that he has connections to the Patriots. Austin’s mother is very close with former Patriots Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest. The 22-year-old grew up idolizing McGinest and the Patriots. He refers to McGinest as his “uncle,” and the two keep in touch.
“Growing up, knowing I had him in my corner… somebody who did everything that I’m trying to do and achieve…Just taking those little coaching points from him as in just how to be a pro on a day-to-day basis, even when I wasn’t a pro. How to eat right, do the right things, and treat people with respect. I, for sure, took a lot of things from him growing up, and it made me into a better player today.”
Along with McGinest, Austin hails from Long Beach, California, which has produced several current Patriots, including JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jack Jones. Austin and Jones have been on the same team before, and now the two reunite.
“Me and Jack actually played on the same Pop Warner team and the same high school. Now, we’re on the same NFL team. It’s surreal.”
Austin now has a chance to make his mark on the Patriots, and he hopes to not take any of these moments for granted.
“It’s all surreal for me, just like for me to be here in this locker room right now after just growing up knowing everything about the Patriots. It’s all surreal,” Austin said. “I’m just taking it all in.”
The Patriots will host the Colts in Germany on Sunday. Kickoff for the two squads is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on NFL Network.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
