The New England Patriots' Week 1 matchup is here. In the team's opening game, they will host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 7. Going into the game, the Patriots will be without top cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who is recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the preseason. While Gonzalez is unavailable, head coach Mike Vrabel has confidence in 2 players who can benefit from the extended minutes.
Alex Austin and Marcus Jones to See Extended Time
During a press conference, Vrabel mentioned both Marcus Jones and Alex Austin as guys who will see time with Gonzalez out. While no one player will be able to replicate what Gonzalez gives you, this could be a good time to see the value that either Austin or Jones can provide to the secondary.
Entering year 4 with the Patriots, Marcus Jones should be ready to show that he can hang in the NFL. While only being 5'8, Jones can be a pesky defender who can annoy opposing teams' slot receivers. Along with his defensive capabilities, Jones is also utilized in the return game and has seen snaps on offense, even catching a touchdown pass in the 2022 season. While Jones does have some injury concerns, if he can improve upon his 2024 season, he could become a reliable slot corner for the team.
Unlike Jones, Alex Austin wasn't drafted by the Patriots; instead, it was the division rival Buffalo Bills who selected him in the 7th round of the 2023 NFL draft. Austin would be waived by them before the season and was claimed a day later by the Houston Texans. His time with them was also short, being waived that November before ultimately being signed by the Patriots the following day.
So far in his career, Austin has played in only 14 career games. With Gonzalez out, no player is in a better position to take advantage of the opening than Austin, who could finally show if he can play. At only 24, Austin can still develop into someone you can trust out, and with this increase of minutes, hopefully, we see him take advantage of this great opportunity.
Not having Christian Gonzalez is a big loss as he is the Patriots' best defensive back. If the Patriots' depth can handle the new-look Raiders, it could be a sign of good things to come. However, if they struggle, depending on how long Gonzalez is out, this could be a long season for the Patriots.